Since about 2008, my life has been easy. I was recovering from the grief of the loss of my mother, but she was in a better place. Since 2007, I had been to the Northeast for a number of family events: a funeral, 3 weddings and a graduation. I made an independent trip just to travel around and visit family and friends. I made trip to Seattle, Washington that was very fine. I made a trip to Northeast New Mexico that was so relaxing that the sense of well being lasted with me for months. I made a trip to Phoenix to visit my brother and his extended family.
Life was good.
I have had some health issues since then, but mostly hip and leg pain, commonly referred to as sciatica. And, finally after toughing through it for several years, I sought treatment and am getting medication and physical therapy for it.
Since late August, I have had a series of events that have caused me distress. I have chronicled these, and will not again in this article, do so.
But it occurs to me that this is not the first time in my life that my Karma just "went away." I will not revisit the times this has happened in past, except to say that it usually surrounded a life changing event. A career change, a divorce, a death, a move. The thing is, I am not sure what life changing event I am experiencing right now.
I am a firm believer laws of physics: a body at rest tends to stay at rest; a body in motion tends to stay in motion. I think this applies to human life. When we reach a plateau or level of stasis, our lives go on in a pretty even keeled sort of way.
Upset the applecart, and all heck breaks loose, and one change after another occurs. The problem is, I am not sure what I did to upset the applecart. Was it a sprained ankle? That seems so ridiculously minor that it would have this impact on my life.
I think that my time was due. And even a small thing upset the applecart of life enough to cause my series of distressing events.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
A Biblical Plague
I really feel like I have been infested with a Biblical plague. I have chronicled my automobile and cell phone problems. Thursday night, my skin infection returned from out of nowhere! And, today, while I was doing laundry, my drains backed up. So that put the kibosh on laundry. The drain clean out was covered with leaves, so I thought I should clean that area of the backyard. And, of course, I ended up cleaning the entire back yard. I did not even plan to do that this weekend. I will say that between the celebrex and my physical therapy exercises, I am getting stronger. It only took about 2 hours to rake the entire yard, with only two rest breaks. That is about what it used to take before my back started bothering me. Of course, I am very sore tonight.
On the other hand, the snow and freezing rain we had last weekend and early this past week knocked most of the leaves off the trees around my house, except the Bradford Pear, to the east. I sometimes do not even rake leaves until New Years, because I want to wait until they are all down. The last couple of years, I have raked a couple of times for two reasons 1) I get tired of looking at the leaves and 2) it takes me so long to rake.
I still have to do the front and alley, but that is not so bad.
I did some serious house cleaning that I was not planning to do, but did not mess with the bathrooms until I can get the plumber in. Nor did I wash the kitchen floor, for the same reason. I called, but it was about 1 PM, and the on-call guy had 8 calls ahead of me. I will check in the morning and see what the prospect is for repairs tomorrow. Amazing, at 10:15 PM the plumber called. He has had a long day, but says they only take weekend call once a month. He was willing to come out tonight, but I told him not to: the cleanout is in a corner of the backyard where there are no lights, and he will have to get on the roof to do the washing machine cleanout. So we have an appointment for noon tomorrow. That makes me happy. I will be able to do the laundry in the afternoon.
The car starts once, but does not hold enough of a charge to start again. I am hoping it will start Monday morning so I do not have to bother a neighbor to get a jump start, but either way I need to be able to get to the repair shop.
The injection that Sake received last Tuesday just did not work as well as the first time. She runs to food, but does not eat. She smacks her lips, but does not eat. She did eat some baby food chicken, some hard treats, some turkey wing meat, and liver tonight. Just a little of each. It is so frustrating. She eats a little at a time, but will not go back to something she has eaten earlier in the day. I am thinking the next step is to have her teeth extracted. I hate to do that, because she will have so much trouble grooming. She will just have to let me help her more.
Well, the cell phone works. The car is safe in the garage. I can renew my library books online or by phone tomorrow. I did get groceries today, but had to get a jump start to get home. It takes almost nothing to start the car, so that is weird.
One thing that has come out of this is that I can now back the car into the garage. I did that for the first time Wednesday night, and I bet it took me 30 minutes. Maybe not, but I sweated over it and did it inch by inch, correcting and recorrecting. Yesterday, it did not take me that long, and today, it took even less time. Of course, I still need to be careful, but it is nice to know I have that skill.
What is really weird, is that I do not think twice about backing the car out of the garage, it is just a straight shot, but sometimes, I end up crooked off the driveway. Well, I am glad I have learned this new skill!
On the other hand, the snow and freezing rain we had last weekend and early this past week knocked most of the leaves off the trees around my house, except the Bradford Pear, to the east. I sometimes do not even rake leaves until New Years, because I want to wait until they are all down. The last couple of years, I have raked a couple of times for two reasons 1) I get tired of looking at the leaves and 2) it takes me so long to rake.
I still have to do the front and alley, but that is not so bad.
I did some serious house cleaning that I was not planning to do, but did not mess with the bathrooms until I can get the plumber in. Nor did I wash the kitchen floor, for the same reason. I called, but it was about 1 PM, and the on-call guy had 8 calls ahead of me. I will check in the morning and see what the prospect is for repairs tomorrow. Amazing, at 10:15 PM the plumber called. He has had a long day, but says they only take weekend call once a month. He was willing to come out tonight, but I told him not to: the cleanout is in a corner of the backyard where there are no lights, and he will have to get on the roof to do the washing machine cleanout. So we have an appointment for noon tomorrow. That makes me happy. I will be able to do the laundry in the afternoon.
The car starts once, but does not hold enough of a charge to start again. I am hoping it will start Monday morning so I do not have to bother a neighbor to get a jump start, but either way I need to be able to get to the repair shop.
The injection that Sake received last Tuesday just did not work as well as the first time. She runs to food, but does not eat. She smacks her lips, but does not eat. She did eat some baby food chicken, some hard treats, some turkey wing meat, and liver tonight. Just a little of each. It is so frustrating. She eats a little at a time, but will not go back to something she has eaten earlier in the day. I am thinking the next step is to have her teeth extracted. I hate to do that, because she will have so much trouble grooming. She will just have to let me help her more.
Well, the cell phone works. The car is safe in the garage. I can renew my library books online or by phone tomorrow. I did get groceries today, but had to get a jump start to get home. It takes almost nothing to start the car, so that is weird.
One thing that has come out of this is that I can now back the car into the garage. I did that for the first time Wednesday night, and I bet it took me 30 minutes. Maybe not, but I sweated over it and did it inch by inch, correcting and recorrecting. Yesterday, it did not take me that long, and today, it took even less time. Of course, I still need to be careful, but it is nice to know I have that skill.
What is really weird, is that I do not think twice about backing the car out of the garage, it is just a straight shot, but sometimes, I end up crooked off the driveway. Well, I am glad I have learned this new skill!
Friday, November 29, 2013
Suspended Responsibility
Thursday was Thanksgiving. My car needs work, and may not even start, although it did Friday. My cell phone was not working, but finally, Sprint corrected the problem on Friday
Even though I was aware I had these problems, I basically suspended responsibility yesterday, and did not worry or care about what was going wrong. I paid attention to what I wanted to be right: I cooked a turkey. I sat in the sun and read. I played with my cats. I watched Texas Tech football, although they lost.
I was thankful to have a house, a roof, food, and a place to be me. I would have liked to call family but I sent emails.
Friday, I tended to things, and the world seemed righter and brighter. Sometimes, being thankful makes a difference. I want to remember to be thankful more often.
Even though I was aware I had these problems, I basically suspended responsibility yesterday, and did not worry or care about what was going wrong. I paid attention to what I wanted to be right: I cooked a turkey. I sat in the sun and read. I played with my cats. I watched Texas Tech football, although they lost.
I was thankful to have a house, a roof, food, and a place to be me. I would have liked to call family but I sent emails.
Friday, I tended to things, and the world seemed righter and brighter. Sometimes, being thankful makes a difference. I want to remember to be thankful more often.
Well, Thngs are a Little Better
Since Monday night, I have not had service in my home, and today I did a survey and the problem was between Boston and Hartford, 56th and 67th St. I contacted Sprint 3 times Monday through Wednesday, and they kept telling me the cell tower strength was the strongest in this neighborhood, and I should upgrade my phone. I finally, Wednesday night, after insisting on talking to a supervisor and telling him I would get a different service today, got to talk to someone who agreed they would send out engineers who would specifically check my neighborhood.
About 4:45, the service was fixed. I talked again to Sprint tonight, and they acknowledged that there was indeed a cell tower out in the area that they were unaware of, and they gave me credit for the 5 days I did not have service.
I have been thinking about upgrading my phone, but I am now thinking I need to explore other services before I upgrade to a smart phone.
After not using the Vue yesterday, it started today. I was amazed. The battery did not hold a charge Wednesday, and we shall see what happens tomorrow and Sunday. I rode around today to charge up the battery a little, and scope out my problem.
It was like since Monday I was in the technology warp where nothing worked, then all of a sudden, today, things worked. Too weird!
After not using the Vue yesterday, it started today. I was amazed. The battery did not hold a charge Wednesday, and we shall see what happens tomorrow and Sunday. I rode around today to charge up the battery a little, and scope out my problem.
It was like since Monday I was in the technology warp where nothing worked, then all of a sudden, today, things worked. Too weird!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
All of This STUFF Happens at Once
I went to physical therapy on Monday morning. Texas Tech Health Sciences Center http://www.ttuhsc.edu/ delayed opening until 10 AM, due to the winter weather conditions, so I did not have to report to work until then. I went to PT. There were patients at PT who cancelled, so I benefitted with more time, and the PT found somethings he could do that would help me more than what we were doing.
I had to get some paperwork for NASW for the next meeting, that the branch chair had. These documents were some that I would have kept, had I been able to attend the November meeting. However, I was attending the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, as a board member representing Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock. But, I did connect with the branch chair, and get the paperwork.
So, Sake stopped eating again, over the weekend of November 23, 2013. I know now it is a gum infection that bothers her. She tries to eat, but is not interested in the food, be it chunks, or paté or pureé. I called the vet, and we had a Tuesday morning appointment scheduled.
Monday night, the Sprint service to my phone went out at my house. I spent almost two hours online with Sprint chat, and mostly kept getting advice to upgrade my phone. I had planned to physical therapy exercises, but finished so late with Sprint, I watched Jay Leno for the headlines, and went to bed....
As suggested, I shut my phone off, and in fact left it off overnight. But there was no resolution to the problem in the morning. So, I sent another message to Spring (via chat) about my problems. I received a response, by email, per my request, but no real help.
I took Sake to the veterinarian on November 26, 2013, and while she was upset, she did not act out as badly as she sometimes does, so we knew she was not feeling well. When we got home and she was able to get out of the crate, she did not hide, but actually sought comfort and solace from me. The vet gave her more anti-biotics, but this does not seem to be helping as much as the combined antibiotics and cortisone did last time. We will have to see what happens.
Tuesday, I did not have cell phone service at home. I had cell phone service in the parking lot at work, and again called Sprint, because they did not give me a service plan or offer any help Monday night, but during that call, they cut me off because they could not assist me while I was calling from the device that needed assistance. That was about 9 AM.
Tuesday, lIfe went on, and as I drove home, I had cell service until I turned off University Avenue onto 62nd Street west. I had some errands to run, and service resumed when I got onto Indianna Avenue, due west of my house.
I called Sprint again about this, from the parking lot of Hobby Lobby. I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Sprint, trying to convince them that although their tower reports excellent service in my zip code, my neighborhood has no service. Not dropped calls, not interrupted calls, but no service. I am not sure I got through. I was very frustrated, and I know I took that frustration out on the service representative. I apologized to her several times. But ultimately, our conversation deteriorated to her suggesting I upgrade my phone. That was very infuriating.
While I was doing this, the battery in my car ran down. I did not realize it until I had made my purchases at Hobby Lobby. I was able to ask someone to give me a jump start, and I had cables. After the car started, the dash lights went out. I had no tachometer, no gas gauge, no speedometer, no odometer, and no radio. I drove home on side streets, and went to Auto Zone before going home. While I was parked in the Auto Zone parking lot, I changed the fuse for the dashboard cluster, but that did not help. I picked a place where there were people and auto parts, but did not need their service, and Auto Zone is close to my home. And the battery was holding a charge.
I started the car a few times overnight, and it started okay. I was able to get to physical therapy on the morning of the 27th, and then finished running the errands I had planned to run Tuesday night. The car battery was holding the charge okay. What a blessing.
One of the errands was to respond to the email I had received from Sprint about my complaint. Again, I had to be out of my neighborhood to call Sprint, so I sat in a parking lot about three quarters of a mile away from my home and made the suggested phone call. Again, this person ultimately tried to convince me to upgrade my phone. At that point, I asked for a supervisor. The supervisor told me that they would try to resolve my problem in 3-5 days. I told him that I could have service from a new provider sooner than that. He told me they did not want that to happen, and would prioritize my service call.
I went to the dealership for my car, and as I suspected, they could not get me in until Monday. I just wanted to talk to a person, rather than deal with a voice about this. The battery was holding the charge, so I went on to work. I had purchased the battery from the dealer, and I was thinking that they need to give me some sort of credit for the lack of longevity of the battery.
At the end of work November 27, 2013, I went to my car, and discovered I needed a jump start to get home from work. I took a long, slow way home, thinking to recharge the battery. I was planning to start the vehicle every couple of hours to keep the charge in the battery. As I drove to the house, the "searching for service" beeping started on my phone. I checked my phone, and I had a voicemail. I went again to a nearby parking lot, and listened to my voicemail.
It was a call from Sprint, about the service problems I was having. They gave me a different number to call, and a menu option to use. The representative I spoke to "got it" that the service problem was not dropped calls or interrupted service, but that my phone was searching for service. She understood that they could not call me at home, because I had no service at home, but they could email me if they needed to. She "got it" that the problem was in a defined geographic area in my neighborhood, no matter what their towers reported regarding available service in the neighborhood. I told her that it might not be a Sprint problem, but a blocking problem. She acknowledged that, but said they needed to find out what was going on. What a relief. To speak to a person who was not spouting platitudes, but was acknowledging the individual problem I was having. I will not say unique, someone else maybe having the same problem, but it is my problem.
Well, in the parking lot, I was stranded: the battery was no longer holding a charge. It was late, and dark. I did not want to drive around town to find someplace where I could get a new battery. I should have purchased a new battery earlier in the day.
I went home and backed into the garage. This took me a while. I was not able to park the car centered, but to one side. But, I did it.
My plan is to stay home on Thanksgiving Day. And, to ask a neighbor for help to jump start the car on Friday, and get a new battery, so I can run errands, do chores and continue activity as I need to during the weekend. And, get to the dealership on Monday.
But in the mean time, I have to deal with all the STUFF that has happening.
I had to get some paperwork for NASW for the next meeting, that the branch chair had. These documents were some that I would have kept, had I been able to attend the November meeting. However, I was attending the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, as a board member representing Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock. But, I did connect with the branch chair, and get the paperwork.
So, Sake stopped eating again, over the weekend of November 23, 2013. I know now it is a gum infection that bothers her. She tries to eat, but is not interested in the food, be it chunks, or paté or pureé. I called the vet, and we had a Tuesday morning appointment scheduled.
Monday night, the Sprint service to my phone went out at my house. I spent almost two hours online with Sprint chat, and mostly kept getting advice to upgrade my phone. I had planned to physical therapy exercises, but finished so late with Sprint, I watched Jay Leno for the headlines, and went to bed....
As suggested, I shut my phone off, and in fact left it off overnight. But there was no resolution to the problem in the morning. So, I sent another message to Spring (via chat) about my problems. I received a response, by email, per my request, but no real help.
I took Sake to the veterinarian on November 26, 2013, and while she was upset, she did not act out as badly as she sometimes does, so we knew she was not feeling well. When we got home and she was able to get out of the crate, she did not hide, but actually sought comfort and solace from me. The vet gave her more anti-biotics, but this does not seem to be helping as much as the combined antibiotics and cortisone did last time. We will have to see what happens.
Tuesday, I did not have cell phone service at home. I had cell phone service in the parking lot at work, and again called Sprint, because they did not give me a service plan or offer any help Monday night, but during that call, they cut me off because they could not assist me while I was calling from the device that needed assistance. That was about 9 AM.
Tuesday, lIfe went on, and as I drove home, I had cell service until I turned off University Avenue onto 62nd Street west. I had some errands to run, and service resumed when I got onto Indianna Avenue, due west of my house.
I called Sprint again about this, from the parking lot of Hobby Lobby. I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Sprint, trying to convince them that although their tower reports excellent service in my zip code, my neighborhood has no service. Not dropped calls, not interrupted calls, but no service. I am not sure I got through. I was very frustrated, and I know I took that frustration out on the service representative. I apologized to her several times. But ultimately, our conversation deteriorated to her suggesting I upgrade my phone. That was very infuriating.
While I was doing this, the battery in my car ran down. I did not realize it until I had made my purchases at Hobby Lobby. I was able to ask someone to give me a jump start, and I had cables. After the car started, the dash lights went out. I had no tachometer, no gas gauge, no speedometer, no odometer, and no radio. I drove home on side streets, and went to Auto Zone before going home. While I was parked in the Auto Zone parking lot, I changed the fuse for the dashboard cluster, but that did not help. I picked a place where there were people and auto parts, but did not need their service, and Auto Zone is close to my home. And the battery was holding a charge.
I started the car a few times overnight, and it started okay. I was able to get to physical therapy on the morning of the 27th, and then finished running the errands I had planned to run Tuesday night. The car battery was holding the charge okay. What a blessing.
One of the errands was to respond to the email I had received from Sprint about my complaint. Again, I had to be out of my neighborhood to call Sprint, so I sat in a parking lot about three quarters of a mile away from my home and made the suggested phone call. Again, this person ultimately tried to convince me to upgrade my phone. At that point, I asked for a supervisor. The supervisor told me that they would try to resolve my problem in 3-5 days. I told him that I could have service from a new provider sooner than that. He told me they did not want that to happen, and would prioritize my service call.
I went to the dealership for my car, and as I suspected, they could not get me in until Monday. I just wanted to talk to a person, rather than deal with a voice about this. The battery was holding the charge, so I went on to work. I had purchased the battery from the dealer, and I was thinking that they need to give me some sort of credit for the lack of longevity of the battery.
At the end of work November 27, 2013, I went to my car, and discovered I needed a jump start to get home from work. I took a long, slow way home, thinking to recharge the battery. I was planning to start the vehicle every couple of hours to keep the charge in the battery. As I drove to the house, the "searching for service" beeping started on my phone. I checked my phone, and I had a voicemail. I went again to a nearby parking lot, and listened to my voicemail.
It was a call from Sprint, about the service problems I was having. They gave me a different number to call, and a menu option to use. The representative I spoke to "got it" that the service problem was not dropped calls or interrupted service, but that my phone was searching for service. She understood that they could not call me at home, because I had no service at home, but they could email me if they needed to. She "got it" that the problem was in a defined geographic area in my neighborhood, no matter what their towers reported regarding available service in the neighborhood. I told her that it might not be a Sprint problem, but a blocking problem. She acknowledged that, but said they needed to find out what was going on. What a relief. To speak to a person who was not spouting platitudes, but was acknowledging the individual problem I was having. I will not say unique, someone else maybe having the same problem, but it is my problem.
Well, in the parking lot, I was stranded: the battery was no longer holding a charge. It was late, and dark. I did not want to drive around town to find someplace where I could get a new battery. I should have purchased a new battery earlier in the day.
I went home and backed into the garage. This took me a while. I was not able to park the car centered, but to one side. But, I did it.
My plan is to stay home on Thanksgiving Day. And, to ask a neighbor for help to jump start the car on Friday, and get a new battery, so I can run errands, do chores and continue activity as I need to during the weekend. And, get to the dealership on Monday.
But in the mean time, I have to deal with all the STUFF that has happening.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Cell Phone Service
I have been a Sprint Cell Phone customer since 2003, and generally have been pleased with the service. Until recently. Some months ago, I did not have cell phone service, and contacted Spring on their website. They acknowledged, after a lot of back and forth, that there was a cell out in my area, and they anticipated it would be repaired in 2-3 days, and gave me credit for the down time.
Tonight, once again, I am without cell phone service. When I got on line to report it, the technician I contacted tried to talk to me about upgrading my phone, and intimated that it was my phone that was the problem, not their service. But, when I asked about upgrades, the technician could give me no details. This person tried to send a SMS through, and it took three tries, and finally I got all three, but could not respond. After going back and forth multiple times, the technician finally agreed to contact engineering to check on service in my area, and said they would call me back tomorrow. What good is a call back if I do not have phone service. These people are nuts.
My phone is old, and while I hate the idea of planned obsolescence, I have had to deal with it before. As in when Suddenlink, my cable service, upgraded their service, and my modem became obsolete. Of course, if I rented a modem from them, they would have provided a new one. But, in the long run, buying one is cheaper than paying interminable rent.
So, tonight, I will hope that I am safe without a phone. This makes me think I might want to investigate bundling a land line, just for emergency purposes if the cell goes out.
Well, technology is nice when it works.
Tonight, once again, I am without cell phone service. When I got on line to report it, the technician I contacted tried to talk to me about upgrading my phone, and intimated that it was my phone that was the problem, not their service. But, when I asked about upgrades, the technician could give me no details. This person tried to send a SMS through, and it took three tries, and finally I got all three, but could not respond. After going back and forth multiple times, the technician finally agreed to contact engineering to check on service in my area, and said they would call me back tomorrow. What good is a call back if I do not have phone service. These people are nuts.
My phone is old, and while I hate the idea of planned obsolescence, I have had to deal with it before. As in when Suddenlink, my cable service, upgraded their service, and my modem became obsolete. Of course, if I rented a modem from them, they would have provided a new one. But, in the long run, buying one is cheaper than paying interminable rent.
So, tonight, I will hope that I am safe without a phone. This makes me think I might want to investigate bundling a land line, just for emergency purposes if the cell goes out.
Well, technology is nice when it works.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Cellphones on a Plane?
I have a cell phone, and I use it in public. I used to have a hands free device, but it stopped working and I never replaced it. Sometimes, I use the speaker phone when I am on the phone. Mostly, I talk into the phone.
I do not like listening to other people's conversations in public, and try hard not to subject the people around me to a serious conversation. I might call someone and ask about a purchase, for example, or call someone to give them an update on my status, such as "running late for our meeting." But I really try to keep my phone conversations private.
I do not fly much, but recently took a trip by plane. Getting on or off the plane, people were bonded to their cell phones. I heard lots of person information that I really did not want to hear. I understand calling about status updates: the plane is getting off late, the plane just landed late, etc. I get that, it makes sense.
But I do not want to hear your business problems and orders. I do not want to hear your personal problems. I do not want to hear your romantic trysts, your lover's arguments, or your parent-child interchange.
I for one, hope that airlines do not allow cell phone usage while we are flying. Or, better yet, do not allow cell phone conversations. If you want to text or send email, and I do not have to hear it or read it, go for it. But no conversations.
I do not like listening to other people's conversations in public, and try hard not to subject the people around me to a serious conversation. I might call someone and ask about a purchase, for example, or call someone to give them an update on my status, such as "running late for our meeting." But I really try to keep my phone conversations private.
I do not fly much, but recently took a trip by plane. Getting on or off the plane, people were bonded to their cell phones. I heard lots of person information that I really did not want to hear. I understand calling about status updates: the plane is getting off late, the plane just landed late, etc. I get that, it makes sense.
But I do not want to hear your business problems and orders. I do not want to hear your personal problems. I do not want to hear your romantic trysts, your lover's arguments, or your parent-child interchange.
I for one, hope that airlines do not allow cell phone usage while we are flying. Or, better yet, do not allow cell phone conversations. If you want to text or send email, and I do not have to hear it or read it, go for it. But no conversations.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Noises
So, we are in the midst of a winter storm. In Lubbock, that might mean snow or it might mean freezing rain, or sleet, but I am not sure what the difference is between freezing rain and sleet . Since yesterday, intermittently, it has meant freezing rain, snow, rain, and freezing rain again.
I have had some weird noises in my house. Freezing rain, sleet, and hail reverberate in my heater closet. I am not sure why, but they do.
Sometimes, when my heater is running, I am hearing a clicking noise. Sometimes, I am not. I am trying to be very observant about this, but who knows why this is.
The fairly new space heater that I purchased last year and am using in my computer room has taken on a strange noise. I suspect that a metal fan blade is slightly bent and is intermittently hitting on another component in the heater. I am not too pleased about this. I am debating about taking the heater apart to try to straighten out the components.
But, no matter what, I will be vigilant and try to watch for any problems. Noises signify changes. But what the changes are, who knows.
I have had some weird noises in my house. Freezing rain, sleet, and hail reverberate in my heater closet. I am not sure why, but they do.
Sometimes, when my heater is running, I am hearing a clicking noise. Sometimes, I am not. I am trying to be very observant about this, but who knows why this is.
The fairly new space heater that I purchased last year and am using in my computer room has taken on a strange noise. I suspect that a metal fan blade is slightly bent and is intermittently hitting on another component in the heater. I am not too pleased about this. I am debating about taking the heater apart to try to straighten out the components.
But, no matter what, I will be vigilant and try to watch for any problems. Noises signify changes. But what the changes are, who knows.
The Haircut
I have blogged before regarding getting a haircut and all that is involved in that for me. Well, I went today to the local Pro Cuts http://www.procuts.com/ for a haircut that was 3 or 4 weeks past due. There were several reasons for the delay, none of which I wish to discuss.
There are at least three stylists, hairdressers or whatever you call them at the Pro Cuts near where I live that do a really good job when I get my hair cut, so I do not ask for anyone in particular. I probably should, because one of the stylists does not do so well. But even her work is tolerable, and what the heck, it grows out.
So, I was blessed to get one of the stylists that I like. When I told her how much hair I wanted cut off, 2 inches, she was a little concerned. I "get this." If you cut too much hair off, you cannot put it back, and people can be very ornery about a bad hair cut. I have been at the Pro Cuts shop before when someone has come in with a complaint about a haircut, and the stylist had to try to fix it. I would probably not do that to a stylist. I would just let my hair grow out, and find someone else to cut it next time. But two inches of hair when my hair just barely touches my collar is a lot of hair. The stylist seemed more comfortable about the cut when I told her I was past due for a haircut.
She did a good job, and I got the haircut I was hoping to get.
There are at least three stylists, hairdressers or whatever you call them at the Pro Cuts near where I live that do a really good job when I get my hair cut, so I do not ask for anyone in particular. I probably should, because one of the stylists does not do so well. But even her work is tolerable, and what the heck, it grows out.
So, I was blessed to get one of the stylists that I like. When I told her how much hair I wanted cut off, 2 inches, she was a little concerned. I "get this." If you cut too much hair off, you cannot put it back, and people can be very ornery about a bad hair cut. I have been at the Pro Cuts shop before when someone has come in with a complaint about a haircut, and the stylist had to try to fix it. I would probably not do that to a stylist. I would just let my hair grow out, and find someone else to cut it next time. But two inches of hair when my hair just barely touches my collar is a lot of hair. The stylist seemed more comfortable about the cut when I told her I was past due for a haircut.
She did a good job, and I got the haircut I was hoping to get.
Could This Be True?
Surely I have written about the fact that Sake,Haiku and Taki all keep their distance from each other, with exceptions. Taki and Haiku will eat together, and get into slapping matches. When Taki was young, Sake would play patty pat with Taki. I have not seen that in a long time. For years, Haiku and Sake would not be in the same room with each other. Until the addition of Taki who changed the dynamics of the relationships in my household.
Well it is the rare occasion, even now that two cats, not three, will join me on the sofa. Very rare. Today, because Sake was using the afghan I usually cover up with on the sofa, I took another one to use, and left it on the other end of the sofa. Tonight, Sake and Haiku were each laying on an end of the sofa, on a afghan. I am not sure I understand this. The sofa is soft and overstuffed. They both like to sit on an arm, or the back. but to sit on the seat, they like an afghan under them. I could understand if they burrowed under the afghan. But, they just lay on top of it.
Well, whatever pleases them, pleases me.
Well it is the rare occasion, even now that two cats, not three, will join me on the sofa. Very rare. Today, because Sake was using the afghan I usually cover up with on the sofa, I took another one to use, and left it on the other end of the sofa. Tonight, Sake and Haiku were each laying on an end of the sofa, on a afghan. I am not sure I understand this. The sofa is soft and overstuffed. They both like to sit on an arm, or the back. but to sit on the seat, they like an afghan under them. I could understand if they burrowed under the afghan. But, they just lay on top of it.
Well, whatever pleases them, pleases me.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Caught!
I have previously written about Sake's illness, a mouth infection that turned her into a very picky eater and required a trip to the Veterinarian. And, after that, she immediately started eating better. And acting less irritable.
She still seems to pretend to be picky about what she eats, and prefers cut up chicken to baby food chicken, or hard food. But I have long suspected that she is availing herself of some of the other food I put out. At each meal, I put out some Fancy Feast for Taki and human tuna for Taki and Haiku. They also like hard treats. All the while that Sake was ill, she would intermittently eat the hard treats.
A few minutes ago, I walked into the kitchen, and there was Sake eating human tuna. When she saw me, she stopped. She looked at me like she knew she got caught. And then decided to continue eating the tuna.
Sometimes, you just have to cut your losses.
She still seems to pretend to be picky about what she eats, and prefers cut up chicken to baby food chicken, or hard food. But I have long suspected that she is availing herself of some of the other food I put out. At each meal, I put out some Fancy Feast for Taki and human tuna for Taki and Haiku. They also like hard treats. All the while that Sake was ill, she would intermittently eat the hard treats.
A few minutes ago, I walked into the kitchen, and there was Sake eating human tuna. When she saw me, she stopped. She looked at me like she knew she got caught. And then decided to continue eating the tuna.
Sometimes, you just have to cut your losses.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Winter Weather
Lubbock, like much of the mid-west of the nation, is under a winter weather watch. The local weather report says we have dropped 55° from 74°, since 2 PM today, until almost 10:30 PM tonight. There is a wind chill factor involved also.
There is the possibility of winter precipitation tomorrow, also. Schools and other entities are on alert to decide if they need to alter their start times, delay or cancel activities.
The winter weather is scheduled to continue through Monday of next week. At best, it would be nice to get some moisture. Sadly, the moisture will cause dangerous travel conditions. We hope the wind does not cause power outages due to wires being downed. The amount of winter precipitation we expect does not appear to be enough to cause major power outages, but could cause very slick road conditions, which becomes very dangerous for motorists.
I had planned to stop at the grocery store to buy a couple of regular items tonight. As is typical for Lubbock when a winter storm is expected, the grocery store was very busy. The milk supply was low, and people were stocking up. I usually keep a good supply of many items so I can survive without having to go to the store. The items I wanted today were optionals, but desirables. I could have done without, but I was not concerned about having to wait in line at the store.
I wore a light jacket to work this morning. It was so mild, I really did not need the jacket. When I left work tonight, I could have used a heavier jacket. One thing that helped is that I keep gloves in the pockets of just about every jacket I own, the exception being my "hoodie." Having gloves helped with my comfort level on the way to the car from the prison tonight. The parking lot at work is wide open and subject to the winds that add to the wind chill factor. My stop at the grocery store was not bad: the parking lot is not large, and the buildings around temper the effect of the wind.
It is that time of year. We can expect wintry conditions from now until March. They occur intermittently, and we are blessed with shirt sleeve weather in between.
I like West Texas weather. Except the dust, and destructive hail and tornadoes.
There is the possibility of winter precipitation tomorrow, also. Schools and other entities are on alert to decide if they need to alter their start times, delay or cancel activities.
The winter weather is scheduled to continue through Monday of next week. At best, it would be nice to get some moisture. Sadly, the moisture will cause dangerous travel conditions. We hope the wind does not cause power outages due to wires being downed. The amount of winter precipitation we expect does not appear to be enough to cause major power outages, but could cause very slick road conditions, which becomes very dangerous for motorists.
I had planned to stop at the grocery store to buy a couple of regular items tonight. As is typical for Lubbock when a winter storm is expected, the grocery store was very busy. The milk supply was low, and people were stocking up. I usually keep a good supply of many items so I can survive without having to go to the store. The items I wanted today were optionals, but desirables. I could have done without, but I was not concerned about having to wait in line at the store.
I wore a light jacket to work this morning. It was so mild, I really did not need the jacket. When I left work tonight, I could have used a heavier jacket. One thing that helped is that I keep gloves in the pockets of just about every jacket I own, the exception being my "hoodie." Having gloves helped with my comfort level on the way to the car from the prison tonight. The parking lot at work is wide open and subject to the winds that add to the wind chill factor. My stop at the grocery store was not bad: the parking lot is not large, and the buildings around temper the effect of the wind.
It is that time of year. We can expect wintry conditions from now until March. They occur intermittently, and we are blessed with shirt sleeve weather in between.
I like West Texas weather. Except the dust, and destructive hail and tornadoes.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The Gettysburg Address
This week is the 150th commemoration of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery on November 19, 1863 http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm. This address was delivered when the city of Gettysburg dedicated the cemetery for the victims of the Battle of Gettysburg http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg.html. I was blessed to tour the Gettysburg battlefield and cemetery areas, tour the visitor's centers and other buildings. I do not think I have ever been more emotionally or spiritually moved by any place I have visited. It was just awe-inspiring. Of course, Lincoln's words ran through my brain much of the time as I was touring Gettysburg.
I am so thankful that I was able to tour Gettysburg. I am thrilled at the commemorative media coverage http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/11/seven-score-and-ten-years-ago-the-gettysburg-address-entered-history.html. In my email queue today, was a letter that President Obama wrote regarding his reflections about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/gettysburg-address?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=email263-text1&utm_campaign=gettysberg
It is amazing to me how powerful, how important, how all encompassing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is.
We are blessed to know the significance of this address. We are blessed to know that the Union survived, (something Lincoln did not know for certain at the time of his address). We are blessed to see the racial integration of this nation, and although we have much more work to do, how wonderful it is that we have made the advances we have made.
I am so thankful that I was able to tour Gettysburg. I am thrilled at the commemorative media coverage http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/11/seven-score-and-ten-years-ago-the-gettysburg-address-entered-history.html. In my email queue today, was a letter that President Obama wrote regarding his reflections about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/gettysburg-address?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=email263-text1&utm_campaign=gettysberg
It is amazing to me how powerful, how important, how all encompassing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is.
We are blessed to know the significance of this address. We are blessed to know that the Union survived, (something Lincoln did not know for certain at the time of his address). We are blessed to see the racial integration of this nation, and although we have much more work to do, how wonderful it is that we have made the advances we have made.
The Assassination of John F Kennedy
This is a time of very important anniversaries in the history of the United States. November 22, 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy http://www.jfklibrary.org/. There has been a lot of media about this assassination, and I have watched it, remembering how sad I was for our nation. I was in the 6th grade. I remember that we heard about this as the boys came back from the mid-afternoon break. The janitor had the radio on, and they heard the news and brought it back to us.
I remember watching a lot of television: the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, the funeral cortege and the explanations of all the symbolism, the stories about the Kennedy children.
This was a very sad time for our country. It is a hallmark of the United States government that instead of being thrown into chaos, although I am sure the players felt they were in chaos, the oath was administered to Lyndon B. Johnson and he became the next President of the United States.
To this day, there is controversy over whether Lee Harvey Oswald http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Harvey_Oswald was the lone assassin, or if he worked in conjunction with a conspiracy to assassinate the President. I know that the Warren Commission http://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-1.html basically said that Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for the assassination.
I am reminded that a news commentator remarked that a whole generation of Americans will go through life thinking that there was a conspiracy, not based on history, but based on the Oliver Stone movie JFK http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102138/.
There are many history, discovery and news media outlets that air stories that may be based in fact, but also have some questionable information in them. Some are blatantly ficitonalized, or take "creative license" to make the story more interesting, more amenable to the time constraints of the media outlet, but some try to stay true to the facts. But it is difficult to discern what is the reality of these media offerings. Usually, I trust the stuff on PBS http://www.pbs.org/. I used to try to believe the stuff on The History Channel https://www.google.com/search?q=The+History+Channel&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF, but realize it is an entertainment outlet, not an educational venue, and I have been disillusioned by it. But I still like it. I do not watch the Discovery Channel http://dsc.discovery.com/ or the National Geographic Channel http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/, so I will reserve judgement on those two outlets.
But, there has been some interesting programming about the assassination of JFK, and it is an important reminder about this tragic time in the history of the United States.
I remember watching a lot of television: the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, the funeral cortege and the explanations of all the symbolism, the stories about the Kennedy children.
This was a very sad time for our country. It is a hallmark of the United States government that instead of being thrown into chaos, although I am sure the players felt they were in chaos, the oath was administered to Lyndon B. Johnson and he became the next President of the United States.
To this day, there is controversy over whether Lee Harvey Oswald http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Harvey_Oswald was the lone assassin, or if he worked in conjunction with a conspiracy to assassinate the President. I know that the Warren Commission http://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-1.html basically said that Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for the assassination.
I am reminded that a news commentator remarked that a whole generation of Americans will go through life thinking that there was a conspiracy, not based on history, but based on the Oliver Stone movie JFK http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102138/.
There are many history, discovery and news media outlets that air stories that may be based in fact, but also have some questionable information in them. Some are blatantly ficitonalized, or take "creative license" to make the story more interesting, more amenable to the time constraints of the media outlet, but some try to stay true to the facts. But it is difficult to discern what is the reality of these media offerings. Usually, I trust the stuff on PBS http://www.pbs.org/. I used to try to believe the stuff on The History Channel https://www.google.com/search?q=The+History+Channel&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF, but realize it is an entertainment outlet, not an educational venue, and I have been disillusioned by it. But I still like it. I do not watch the Discovery Channel http://dsc.discovery.com/ or the National Geographic Channel http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/, so I will reserve judgement on those two outlets.
But, there has been some interesting programming about the assassination of JFK, and it is an important reminder about this tragic time in the history of the United States.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Dark Early
It gets dark early at night, now that we are in standard time. Sometimes, the fact that it gets dark so early really is difficult for me. It is as if the day has ended prematurely. I am not tired, I am not ready for bed, but I feel cocooned into my house. That is not totally true, because if I have some place to go or something to do, I will do it. But it is as if I am locked in.
This is the time of year I wish I had a fireplace. Not only would the warmth be wonderful, but the cheery brightness of the flames would improve my spirit.
I can go out and do if there is something to go out and do.
But, it gets dark early, and I retire in early. Even if I do not retire to bed early.
This is the time of year I wish I had a fireplace. Not only would the warmth be wonderful, but the cheery brightness of the flames would improve my spirit.
I can go out and do if there is something to go out and do.
But, it gets dark early, and I retire in early. Even if I do not retire to bed early.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Physical Therapy, Discouragement and Persistence
So, I have been going to physical therapy (PT) for the sciatica condition that I have lived with since I am not sure when, maybe as long ago as 2007. The pain has prevented me from doing the walking I like to do, and has limited my activities, including doing housework and yard work. Over the years that I have suffered with this pain, and I have connived to limit my walking at work, while shopping, and I have done less and less housework and yard work.
I kept telling myself I needed to go to the doctor to get help with this problem. And, I kept avoiding this. But this year, I had a sprained ankle, and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. So, if I was going to have to be in the doctor's office, I was going to see about getting my back and leg pain tended to.
So, in addition to the back and leg pain, I have had some right leg weakness. Wisely, in addition to prescribing an NSAID, celebrex, my provider referred me to physical therapy. I went gamely to physical therapy. And have diligently done the "homework" exercises that were assigned to help me.
Last week, I was at a professional conference, and was not able to go to PT. This morning, as I readied myself to go to PT, I had a mental argument regarding the value and benefit of physical therapy. I was not sure it was worth my time. I was not sure there was any benefit to me. I was feeling discouraged.
Part of the reason I was feeling discouraged was that I had done some serious physical activity over the last two weeks. So my back was hurting, my lower back was hurting, and I was not feeling great.
But I went to PT. And the thearpist reviewed with me what we had accomplished. I was surprised. I had actually developed some strength in my right leg. I still have some pain, but I am able to do some things that I was not able to do a month ago.
I am willing to give PT a go for a while longer. I hope it makes a difference. We shall see.
I kept telling myself I needed to go to the doctor to get help with this problem. And, I kept avoiding this. But this year, I had a sprained ankle, and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. So, if I was going to have to be in the doctor's office, I was going to see about getting my back and leg pain tended to.
So, in addition to the back and leg pain, I have had some right leg weakness. Wisely, in addition to prescribing an NSAID, celebrex, my provider referred me to physical therapy. I went gamely to physical therapy. And have diligently done the "homework" exercises that were assigned to help me.
Last week, I was at a professional conference, and was not able to go to PT. This morning, as I readied myself to go to PT, I had a mental argument regarding the value and benefit of physical therapy. I was not sure it was worth my time. I was not sure there was any benefit to me. I was feeling discouraged.
Part of the reason I was feeling discouraged was that I had done some serious physical activity over the last two weeks. So my back was hurting, my lower back was hurting, and I was not feeling great.
But I went to PT. And the thearpist reviewed with me what we had accomplished. I was surprised. I had actually developed some strength in my right leg. I still have some pain, but I am able to do some things that I was not able to do a month ago.
I am willing to give PT a go for a while longer. I hope it makes a difference. We shall see.
My Skin Condition and Advice From Coworkers
I have had this skin problem that started on October 27, 2013. I kept trying to figure out what I could have done or gotten into that would have cause the problem, that mostly manifested itself on the backs of my hands, but spread to my forearms, initially. I thought it might be related to yard work, or the pumpkin I purchased that day, for Halloween.
When I was in high school, I had a reaction to something that manifested itself like this, only over much more of my body, including my face. The skin around my eyes was swollen, and I had pustules oozing over my body. I was prescribed pills (maybe cortisone) and cream, and it took about 2 weeks for things to dry up, and a maybe two more weeks for the dried up skin to return to normal.
Well, whatever I had waxed and waned. I tried to manage it with cortisone cream and calamine lotion. It got worse the night I carved the pumpkin, but was localized on my hands and forearms. For about 10 days. Then, it spread to my neck and chest, in a V-shape under my neck.
I called the doctor, got in and got a diagnosis (that I did not agree with) but got creams and ointments and treatment that I did agree with. I did the treatment. I was not really pleased with the results of the treatment. It included topical ointments and washings. The stuff on my hands was contained. I had stuff on my nose and lips. The creams and ointments helped some, and I also used dandruff shampoo on my nose and lips and that helped a lot.
My coworkers, especially the physicians' assistants, were very helpful, concerned and supportive. Then, I took a week off, and took a trip out of town. I kept up with the ointments, creams and dandruff shampoo. I did ointment and lip balm on my face and lips. I did a second treatment after I returned home (within the specified time frame.)
And, things seemed to be drying up. And, when things started drying up, things changed from burning to itching. Burning is manageable, but itching is almost intolerable. Or at least very uncomfortable.
Today at work, the physician's assistants checked me out. They were pleased that things were doing better, but one was concerned that the drying up of the inflammation looked red and angry still, and wondered if I needed to see a dermatologist. If the inflammation does not resolve, I will go back to the doctor, and ask if I need something else. But I believe it will resolve. Because it is taking the course that the inflammation I suffered as a teenager took.
Well, during the day, a couple other coworkers weighed in on my skin problem: Both thought that I needed a skin cream that their doctor prescribed, without knowing what my skin problem was. I appreciate their concern. But I have to ask myself, where did they get their medical degree? A coworker who says, get a specialist opinion makes sense. A coworker who says this is what I did no matter what your problem is, is dangerous.
When I was in high school, I had a reaction to something that manifested itself like this, only over much more of my body, including my face. The skin around my eyes was swollen, and I had pustules oozing over my body. I was prescribed pills (maybe cortisone) and cream, and it took about 2 weeks for things to dry up, and a maybe two more weeks for the dried up skin to return to normal.
Well, whatever I had waxed and waned. I tried to manage it with cortisone cream and calamine lotion. It got worse the night I carved the pumpkin, but was localized on my hands and forearms. For about 10 days. Then, it spread to my neck and chest, in a V-shape under my neck.
I called the doctor, got in and got a diagnosis (that I did not agree with) but got creams and ointments and treatment that I did agree with. I did the treatment. I was not really pleased with the results of the treatment. It included topical ointments and washings. The stuff on my hands was contained. I had stuff on my nose and lips. The creams and ointments helped some, and I also used dandruff shampoo on my nose and lips and that helped a lot.
My coworkers, especially the physicians' assistants, were very helpful, concerned and supportive. Then, I took a week off, and took a trip out of town. I kept up with the ointments, creams and dandruff shampoo. I did ointment and lip balm on my face and lips. I did a second treatment after I returned home (within the specified time frame.)
And, things seemed to be drying up. And, when things started drying up, things changed from burning to itching. Burning is manageable, but itching is almost intolerable. Or at least very uncomfortable.
Today at work, the physician's assistants checked me out. They were pleased that things were doing better, but one was concerned that the drying up of the inflammation looked red and angry still, and wondered if I needed to see a dermatologist. If the inflammation does not resolve, I will go back to the doctor, and ask if I need something else. But I believe it will resolve. Because it is taking the course that the inflammation I suffered as a teenager took.
Well, during the day, a couple other coworkers weighed in on my skin problem: Both thought that I needed a skin cream that their doctor prescribed, without knowing what my skin problem was. I appreciate their concern. But I have to ask myself, where did they get their medical degree? A coworker who says, get a specialist opinion makes sense. A coworker who says this is what I did no matter what your problem is, is dangerous.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Watching History
I watch a lot of history on TV: on PBS, and this includes The American Experience http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/ and on The History Channel http://www.history.com/.
Tonight I watched the episode on The American Experience about John F Kennedy http://www.jfklibrary.org/. I almost did not watch the show, because I knew the outcome. But, I did watch the show. It was well done, and touched on many aspects of the President Kennedy's life and presidency.
I watched the show and felt at the end, the very emotional loss experienced by the death of President Kennedy. While I sometimes have an emotional reaction to the history I watch, the intensity of my reaction to the death of President Kennedy was very powerful. Maybe not as in depth as the sadness we all felt when he was assassinated, but still very powerful.
Watching history is sometimes a dispassionate activity for me. But sometimes, it evokes from me a great deal of emotion. Sometimes, going into the show, I know that I will be emotionally moved. Very often, I do not realize how deeply a history show will impact me.
When I was in junior high and high school, history was a compilation of memorizations of dates and facts. I hated history. When I was in college and had to take a history class, a medieval history course fit into my schedule. I was studying to be a social worker, partly because I find myself fascinated by people's stories. I enjoy reading biographies. And had been reading history books that covered the human story, not the facts. Well, this college course was about politics and human stories, not facts, and I found out that I really do like history.
One of my best friends in Lubbock was a junior high school Texas history teacher. As we walked our dogs, she regaled me with stories of Texas history. The stories were not facts and dates, but the human stories that fleshed out those facts and dates.
I am a very firm believer that we must learn history, because we can learn from history, from the mistakes in our history. Mankind makes the same mistakes over and over again, but we stand a chance to improve our story if we can glean some things from the past that can help to teach us how to improve our future outcomes.
Tonight I watched the episode on The American Experience about John F Kennedy http://www.jfklibrary.org/. I almost did not watch the show, because I knew the outcome. But, I did watch the show. It was well done, and touched on many aspects of the President Kennedy's life and presidency.
I watched the show and felt at the end, the very emotional loss experienced by the death of President Kennedy. While I sometimes have an emotional reaction to the history I watch, the intensity of my reaction to the death of President Kennedy was very powerful. Maybe not as in depth as the sadness we all felt when he was assassinated, but still very powerful.
Watching history is sometimes a dispassionate activity for me. But sometimes, it evokes from me a great deal of emotion. Sometimes, going into the show, I know that I will be emotionally moved. Very often, I do not realize how deeply a history show will impact me.
When I was in junior high and high school, history was a compilation of memorizations of dates and facts. I hated history. When I was in college and had to take a history class, a medieval history course fit into my schedule. I was studying to be a social worker, partly because I find myself fascinated by people's stories. I enjoy reading biographies. And had been reading history books that covered the human story, not the facts. Well, this college course was about politics and human stories, not facts, and I found out that I really do like history.
One of my best friends in Lubbock was a junior high school Texas history teacher. As we walked our dogs, she regaled me with stories of Texas history. The stories were not facts and dates, but the human stories that fleshed out those facts and dates.
I am a very firm believer that we must learn history, because we can learn from history, from the mistakes in our history. Mankind makes the same mistakes over and over again, but we stand a chance to improve our story if we can glean some things from the past that can help to teach us how to improve our future outcomes.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Slippers
I have several pairs of slippers, including some fluffy boot slippers with some sort of hard foam sole. This is the second or third pair of slippers I have had like this over the years.
Recently, I have seen some hard foam flakes in the living room that I could not easily identify. Until yesterday. I realized that the flakes were from the soles of my slippers. Someone kitty is destroying my slippers.
Today, I bought a new pair of slippers. Instead of pink fluff, the top of the slippers is like a knitted multicolor yarn boot, but with a hard foam sole. I will have to keep the new slippers out of reach if I am not wearing them. I will not take the already decimated fluffy boot slippers out of circulation.
Recently, I have seen some hard foam flakes in the living room that I could not easily identify. Until yesterday. I realized that the flakes were from the soles of my slippers. Someone kitty is destroying my slippers.
Today, I bought a new pair of slippers. Instead of pink fluff, the top of the slippers is like a knitted multicolor yarn boot, but with a hard foam sole. I will have to keep the new slippers out of reach if I am not wearing them. I will not take the already decimated fluffy boot slippers out of circulation.
Once is a Tradition
I was afraid this would happen. Earlier this week, I had to get up very, very early, 3:30 AM, to get to the airport in time to take a very early morning flight out of town. Well, we do what we have to do. I set the alarm, and managed to get up and get out of town on time.
I had the forethought to shut the alarm off while I was gone. I do not always remember to do that, and it must drive the cats nuts, because the alarm will shut it self off, but only after ringing for about two hours. Those poor cats.
I know the cats do not care for the alarm, and for years, Sake would wake me up about 5 minutes before the alarm would go off. That has changed in the last few years, but still sometimes one or the other of the three cats does wake me up before the alarm goes off.
I was gone a few days. I had hoped that my absence would intervene so that the cats did not think I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning. Well, Friday morning, Haiku woke me up about 3:30 AM. And, this morning, she woke me up about 3:45 AM.
Well, a friend of mine says that with her pet, one time creates a tradition. I have noticed the same is true with my cats. And, if I try to change the tradition, they learn quickly and adapt to the new tradition, but do not want to give up the old tradition. Hmmm.
I had the forethought to shut the alarm off while I was gone. I do not always remember to do that, and it must drive the cats nuts, because the alarm will shut it self off, but only after ringing for about two hours. Those poor cats.
I know the cats do not care for the alarm, and for years, Sake would wake me up about 5 minutes before the alarm would go off. That has changed in the last few years, but still sometimes one or the other of the three cats does wake me up before the alarm goes off.
I was gone a few days. I had hoped that my absence would intervene so that the cats did not think I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning. Well, Friday morning, Haiku woke me up about 3:30 AM. And, this morning, she woke me up about 3:45 AM.
Well, a friend of mine says that with her pet, one time creates a tradition. I have noticed the same is true with my cats. And, if I try to change the tradition, they learn quickly and adapt to the new tradition, but do not want to give up the old tradition. Hmmm.
Friday, November 15, 2013
The World of Coca Cola
I just recently returned to Lubbock from a trip to Atlanta, Georgia. It was a business trip, but we were able to include some fun things while we were there. One thing we did was go to "The World of Coca Cola http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/."
My travel companion is a big Coca Cola collector. But even if she was not, I probably would have advocated to go to the World of Coca Cola. I wanted to do something "Atlanta" while I was in the city. I would have prefered to tour the aquariaum, but as I judged our timing, I realized, long before we got to Atlanta, that we would not have enough time to do the aquarium justice.
So, we were both happy to do "The World of Coca Cola" http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/ My sense of the experience was that it was a "Willie Wonka" type experience. We first viewed an animated video that was supposedly instructional about wellness. I did not get it. Then we travelled through the attraction (as it is called). We went to see the "vault" that houses the Coca Cola formula, and we watched the bottling processing, then we got to sample international Coca Cola products.
I did not have an expectaion of this experience. But if I did, I suspect I would have been right on the money.
My travel companion is a big Coca Cola collector. But even if she was not, I probably would have advocated to go to the World of Coca Cola. I wanted to do something "Atlanta" while I was in the city. I would have prefered to tour the aquariaum, but as I judged our timing, I realized, long before we got to Atlanta, that we would not have enough time to do the aquarium justice.
So, we were both happy to do "The World of Coca Cola" http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/ My sense of the experience was that it was a "Willie Wonka" type experience. We first viewed an animated video that was supposedly instructional about wellness. I did not get it. Then we travelled through the attraction (as it is called). We went to see the "vault" that houses the Coca Cola formula, and we watched the bottling processing, then we got to sample international Coca Cola products.
I did not have an expectaion of this experience. But if I did, I suspect I would have been right on the money.
Unpacking
So I have been out of town. I have an excellent, well trusted cat sitter tend to the girls while I am out of town. When I return home, the girls are not skittish, nor overtly in any way put off by my absence. In some ways, that makes me sad, because the cat sitter just comes by twice a day. But on the other hand, she is meeting their needs for food, water and affection to a great degree. So, I am blessed to have such a cat sitter.
Tonight, as I was unpacking, I had the large suitcase on the floor, and was taking things out of it as I would. I am not in a hurry, so there are items to remove that are not clothing, but documents from the training I had attended, my creative activities, including a knitting project, books, word puzzles, and other stuff I collected while I was at the conference.
Well, I unpacked my carry on bag first. And then, when I was ready to unpack the suitcase, Haiku was laying on top of it in a very possessional sort of way. So, I decided to do my physical therapy exercises rather than disturb her.
After I did my physical therapy exercises, Sake was on the suitcase in a very possessional sort of way. So, I decided to do some blogging.
Here it is, after midnight, and no one is on the suitcase. I have to decide if I want to work on unpacking or go to bed.
Well, I am not ready for bed, but I am not going to worry about unpacking tonight.
Tonight, as I was unpacking, I had the large suitcase on the floor, and was taking things out of it as I would. I am not in a hurry, so there are items to remove that are not clothing, but documents from the training I had attended, my creative activities, including a knitting project, books, word puzzles, and other stuff I collected while I was at the conference.
Well, I unpacked my carry on bag first. And then, when I was ready to unpack the suitcase, Haiku was laying on top of it in a very possessional sort of way. So, I decided to do my physical therapy exercises rather than disturb her.
After I did my physical therapy exercises, Sake was on the suitcase in a very possessional sort of way. So, I decided to do some blogging.
Here it is, after midnight, and no one is on the suitcase. I have to decide if I want to work on unpacking or go to bed.
Well, I am not ready for bed, but I am not going to worry about unpacking tonight.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
My Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia
I just returned from a stay at the Westin Peachtree Plaza
http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/ in Atlanta, Georgia. The room was payed for by the agency I represented, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, http://www.cclubbock.org/, and the price was not bad ($129) for a downtown big city hotel. Of course, the hotel is under renovation, and the rate included free wi-fi (instead of the the $14.95/day the hotel usually charges) and a discounted rate, as we were part of the 2913 National Runaway and Homeless Youth Grantees Conference http://www.rhyttac.net/training/national-conference.
The hotel was nice enough. The room was small, the bathroom and closet very small. There were the amenities: complimentary coffee in the room, a "wet bar" if you wanted to purchase food (snacks), bottled water, wine, or soda pop, among other things. The typical complimentary hygiene products were in the bathroom. A hair dryer, an iron, ironing board and in closet safe. And of course, a cordless phone, with two receivers, no less. As usual, there was maid service, which you could defer as a "green" initiative, which I remembered to do the first night, but not the second. There was even a recycling container.
The outside wall was a huge plate glass window, covered with a sheer, and a full heavy drape. The weather in Georgia, like a large part of the southeast, experienced a cold front http://www.weather.com/weather/today/USGA0028:1. On Monday, the air conditioner in the room was on, and although it was warm outside, I turned off the air conditioner as the room was cooler than I like. On Tuesday, I turned on the heater, due to the cold near the window. In bed, I could get warm. But sitting at the desk, I could feel the draft coming in from the window.
Again, Wednesday, I had the heater on as I could feel the draft, sitting at the desk. This was not the most comfortable hotel room I have ever had. Aside from the safe and wet bar, the amenities were not much different than some $55 to $89/day rooms I have had. And those usually were not as drafty.
At the same rate and with complimentary wi-fi, I would stay at the Westin again. But not if it was cold outside.
The staff of the Westin at Peachtree Plaza were as attentive as one could ask for. Mostly, I would hope that in the future, the Westin at Peachtree Plaza would continue to to try to accommodate the needs of their guests, given the constraints of the renovations. And considering the impact of the outside environment given the outside plate glass windows.
http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/ in Atlanta, Georgia. The room was payed for by the agency I represented, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, http://www.cclubbock.org/, and the price was not bad ($129) for a downtown big city hotel. Of course, the hotel is under renovation, and the rate included free wi-fi (instead of the the $14.95/day the hotel usually charges) and a discounted rate, as we were part of the 2913 National Runaway and Homeless Youth Grantees Conference http://www.rhyttac.net/training/national-conference.
The hotel was nice enough. The room was small, the bathroom and closet very small. There were the amenities: complimentary coffee in the room, a "wet bar" if you wanted to purchase food (snacks), bottled water, wine, or soda pop, among other things. The typical complimentary hygiene products were in the bathroom. A hair dryer, an iron, ironing board and in closet safe. And of course, a cordless phone, with two receivers, no less. As usual, there was maid service, which you could defer as a "green" initiative, which I remembered to do the first night, but not the second. There was even a recycling container.
The outside wall was a huge plate glass window, covered with a sheer, and a full heavy drape. The weather in Georgia, like a large part of the southeast, experienced a cold front http://www.weather.com/weather/today/USGA0028:1. On Monday, the air conditioner in the room was on, and although it was warm outside, I turned off the air conditioner as the room was cooler than I like. On Tuesday, I turned on the heater, due to the cold near the window. In bed, I could get warm. But sitting at the desk, I could feel the draft coming in from the window.
Again, Wednesday, I had the heater on as I could feel the draft, sitting at the desk. This was not the most comfortable hotel room I have ever had. Aside from the safe and wet bar, the amenities were not much different than some $55 to $89/day rooms I have had. And those usually were not as drafty.
At the same rate and with complimentary wi-fi, I would stay at the Westin again. But not if it was cold outside.
The staff of the Westin at Peachtree Plaza were as attentive as one could ask for. Mostly, I would hope that in the future, the Westin at Peachtree Plaza would continue to to try to accommodate the needs of their guests, given the constraints of the renovations. And considering the impact of the outside environment given the outside plate glass windows.
Amazon, USPS, and Sunday Delivery
The United States Postal Service (USPS) https://www.usps.com/ continues to have financial problems and had even considered deleting Saturday delivery, while seeking a rate hike in 2014. The thinking was to contract services to save money. But there is a saying about business: "to make money you have to spend money." And someone at USPS has heeded that old adage.
Just this week, Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/ has announced that it has teamed with the USPS to provide home delivery of their products on Sunday http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/11/amazon-sunday-delivery-usps/3479055/. Although Amazon may use other delivery services, only the USPS has the address of every residence in the country. The plan will roll out first in New York City and Los Angeles. The article indicates that coverage will spread to include much of the population of the United States, and mentions some major cities. I did not know that was much of the population of the United States.
I think this is interesting and will watch to learn how this works out. It raises a lot of questions in my mind. Will the USPS have to hire more people? Will delivery be truely overnight? Amazon is adding additional warehouses around the country to decrease delivery time. Will this create more jobs and encourage more spending? How will this impact Amazon? How will this impact the USPS overall.
Just this week, Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/ has announced that it has teamed with the USPS to provide home delivery of their products on Sunday http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/11/amazon-sunday-delivery-usps/3479055/. Although Amazon may use other delivery services, only the USPS has the address of every residence in the country. The plan will roll out first in New York City and Los Angeles. The article indicates that coverage will spread to include much of the population of the United States, and mentions some major cities. I did not know that was much of the population of the United States.
I think this is interesting and will watch to learn how this works out. It raises a lot of questions in my mind. Will the USPS have to hire more people? Will delivery be truely overnight? Amazon is adding additional warehouses around the country to decrease delivery time. Will this create more jobs and encourage more spending? How will this impact Amazon? How will this impact the USPS overall.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The Tallest Building in the United States of America
The newly completed World Trade Center http://www.wtc.com/about/, in New York City, is officially listed as the tallest building in the United States, at 1776 feet, symbolic as a number in the history of the United States. The World Trade Center is built on the site of the the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/world-trade-center-tower-willis-tower-largest-us-building/3504515/.
The World Trade Center displaced the the Willis Building http://www.wtc.com/about/ in Chicago, that stands at 1730, as the tallest building in the United States. This building is "the Old Sears Building http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/searstower.htm" renamed and renovated.
The World Trade Center displaced the the Willis Building http://www.wtc.com/about/ in Chicago, that stands at 1730, as the tallest building in the United States. This building is "the Old Sears Building http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/searstower.htm" renamed and renovated.
Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound
Or the tall buildings in my life.
I had been in the Sears Roebuck Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Center_(Boston) in Boston. Ma. as a child. It is 10 stories high, but I am not sure we went up to the 10th floor. I have to think that if the 10th floor was open to the public, we would have made the trip, just for the novelty, because that sort of thing would have appealed to my father. If we did, we would have ridden the elevator.
Also in Boston, we went to The Bunker Hill Monument on Breed's Hill http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/bhm.htm when I was young Again, I have to think we climbed it, but I cannot say for sure. At 221 feet high, it is slightly higher than the 200 foot Sears Building.
In my youth, the highest building I ever went up was the Prudential Building, http://www.prudentialcenter.com/explore/about_new.php in Boston, which is 52 stories high, or 749 feet. We went to the observation deck, I have to think, when I was in junior high or high school. I remember hearing stories about when "The Pru" was first built, and there were problems with the plate glass, that would fall out during high winds. Myth or fact? Fact, according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Tower.
The next tall building I remember is the Metro Tower, in Lubbock, Texas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Tower_(Lubbock). Now called the NTS Building, it was the Metro Tower when I moved to Lubbock in 1977. This 274 foot building started life as the Great Plains Life Building, but was damaged, and some say twisted, in the 1970 tornado. I could never see the twist. I worked on the13th floor of that building for several years. And, when there was a restaurant on the 20th floor, the top floor, we ate there or had cocktails after work their on occasion.
The next tall building in my life was the IDS building in Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.ids-center.com/. In 1979, I was in Minneapolis, eating at the restaurant at or near the top of the IDS building, when a tornado warning interfered with our dinner. We were ushered into the basement to wait out the storm. We had to stay in the basement well beyond the time the storm blew through, because the window panes were falling out. We had to wait until that stopped, and it was safe to be outside the building. My companion and I went back to the restaurant to pay our bill. We were told that dinner was "on the house" and offered complimentary dessert and coffee.
I have been in San Antonio multiple times in my life. I do not recall when I first went to The Tower of the Americas http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/. At 750 feet, it is slightly shorter than the 792 foot IDS building. I recall eating at the restaurant on the observation deck. Having dealt with motion sickness severely as a child, and intermittently for the rest of my life, I was concerned that eating while rotating would bother me, but surprisingly, it did not!
In 2009, I made it to the Empire State Building http://www.esbnyc.com/. This was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. One of my favorite movies is The Moon is Blue http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046094/. A large part of this movie is set at the Empire State Building. I enjoyed my visit, although it was a little cold on the observation deck. The building is 1050 feet, and is by far, the tallest building I have been in.
Two years later, in 2011, I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. I travelled to the observation deck of the Spaceneedle http://www.spaceneedle.com/. It is 605 feet tall, and I did not realize it is shorter than the Tower of the Americas. They sell snacks on the observation deck, and I spent a long time just enjoying the view.
Now, in 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia, I have been in the Westin Peachtree Plaza http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/. A circular building, I have used their hotel facilities. And, I have had lunch at the restaurant on the 72nd floor. As with the Tower of Americas, the restaurant rotated, and takes an hour to make a complete circuit. The building is listed at 723 feet.
To date, these are the tall buildings of my life. Maybe, I will add more as time goes by!
I had been in the Sears Roebuck Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Center_(Boston) in Boston. Ma. as a child. It is 10 stories high, but I am not sure we went up to the 10th floor. I have to think that if the 10th floor was open to the public, we would have made the trip, just for the novelty, because that sort of thing would have appealed to my father. If we did, we would have ridden the elevator.
Also in Boston, we went to The Bunker Hill Monument on Breed's Hill http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/bhm.htm when I was young Again, I have to think we climbed it, but I cannot say for sure. At 221 feet high, it is slightly higher than the 200 foot Sears Building.
In my youth, the highest building I ever went up was the Prudential Building, http://www.prudentialcenter.com/explore/about_new.php in Boston, which is 52 stories high, or 749 feet. We went to the observation deck, I have to think, when I was in junior high or high school. I remember hearing stories about when "The Pru" was first built, and there were problems with the plate glass, that would fall out during high winds. Myth or fact? Fact, according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Tower.
The next tall building I remember is the Metro Tower, in Lubbock, Texas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Tower_(Lubbock). Now called the NTS Building, it was the Metro Tower when I moved to Lubbock in 1977. This 274 foot building started life as the Great Plains Life Building, but was damaged, and some say twisted, in the 1970 tornado. I could never see the twist. I worked on the13th floor of that building for several years. And, when there was a restaurant on the 20th floor, the top floor, we ate there or had cocktails after work their on occasion.
The next tall building in my life was the IDS building in Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.ids-center.com/. In 1979, I was in Minneapolis, eating at the restaurant at or near the top of the IDS building, when a tornado warning interfered with our dinner. We were ushered into the basement to wait out the storm. We had to stay in the basement well beyond the time the storm blew through, because the window panes were falling out. We had to wait until that stopped, and it was safe to be outside the building. My companion and I went back to the restaurant to pay our bill. We were told that dinner was "on the house" and offered complimentary dessert and coffee.
I have been in San Antonio multiple times in my life. I do not recall when I first went to The Tower of the Americas http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/. At 750 feet, it is slightly shorter than the 792 foot IDS building. I recall eating at the restaurant on the observation deck. Having dealt with motion sickness severely as a child, and intermittently for the rest of my life, I was concerned that eating while rotating would bother me, but surprisingly, it did not!
In 2009, I made it to the Empire State Building http://www.esbnyc.com/. This was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. One of my favorite movies is The Moon is Blue http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046094/. A large part of this movie is set at the Empire State Building. I enjoyed my visit, although it was a little cold on the observation deck. The building is 1050 feet, and is by far, the tallest building I have been in.
Two years later, in 2011, I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. I travelled to the observation deck of the Spaceneedle http://www.spaceneedle.com/. It is 605 feet tall, and I did not realize it is shorter than the Tower of the Americas. They sell snacks on the observation deck, and I spent a long time just enjoying the view.
Now, in 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia, I have been in the Westin Peachtree Plaza http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/. A circular building, I have used their hotel facilities. And, I have had lunch at the restaurant on the 72nd floor. As with the Tower of Americas, the restaurant rotated, and takes an hour to make a complete circuit. The building is listed at 723 feet.
To date, these are the tall buildings of my life. Maybe, I will add more as time goes by!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Pace Yourself
For reasons I will not discuss in this blog, I have done a lot of extra housework this week. Housework is hard on me, it aggravates the sciatica problem that I have. I used to just do housework and get it done. Now, I have to stop and rest a lot. The physical therapy information I have received helps a lot, because it gives suggestions about posture and positioning while doing common tasks. And when I follow those suggestions, it really makes a difference. The other thing the information says is to take frequent breaks, more than I used to usually do... So I do take more breaks.
At work, we have changed assignments yet again. This is happening every few weeks it seems, but it is based on changes in personnel from other disciplines. I have been given an assignment that I think is a little light weight. Simply due to logistics of what makes sense, and I understand the sense. So, I will look for the opportunity to do more psychosocial evaluations, to help other social workers who have somewhat heavier assignments than I do.
I cannot be at work and not be busy. I cannot just visit, or twiddle my thumbs, or even, leave early. I have to have a full load. My supervisor understands, but keeps telling me to "pace yourself." I appreciate that. She has told me so many times that she worries that I go to work and just keep going and going and going.
Other people in my life have called me "The Energizer Bunny." There was time in my life when I was that active. With the increase in my joint and back pain, I have been content to let things slide, and sit around and just read, watch TV, play on the computer, listen to music and just veg. I have paid the price with reduced muscle power and weight gain.
Well, now that I am in physical therapy, I can see the benefit of easy, repetitive muscle building. Already, I am once again able to squat and rise when just a couple of years ago, once I squatted I was stuck and needed a brace to rise.
I am hoping my sciatica pain will decrease to the extent that I can enjoy walking like I used.to. Or maybe, walking at a reduced distance and/or a slower pace, but still, walking.
At work, we have changed assignments yet again. This is happening every few weeks it seems, but it is based on changes in personnel from other disciplines. I have been given an assignment that I think is a little light weight. Simply due to logistics of what makes sense, and I understand the sense. So, I will look for the opportunity to do more psychosocial evaluations, to help other social workers who have somewhat heavier assignments than I do.
I cannot be at work and not be busy. I cannot just visit, or twiddle my thumbs, or even, leave early. I have to have a full load. My supervisor understands, but keeps telling me to "pace yourself." I appreciate that. She has told me so many times that she worries that I go to work and just keep going and going and going.
Other people in my life have called me "The Energizer Bunny." There was time in my life when I was that active. With the increase in my joint and back pain, I have been content to let things slide, and sit around and just read, watch TV, play on the computer, listen to music and just veg. I have paid the price with reduced muscle power and weight gain.
Well, now that I am in physical therapy, I can see the benefit of easy, repetitive muscle building. Already, I am once again able to squat and rise when just a couple of years ago, once I squatted I was stuck and needed a brace to rise.
I am hoping my sciatica pain will decrease to the extent that I can enjoy walking like I used.to. Or maybe, walking at a reduced distance and/or a slower pace, but still, walking.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Vulnerabillity and Faith
I am going to physical therapy for sciatica. When my provider suggested physical therapy, she mentioned it might sound weird, but I did not think it did. When she said she was referring me to Spectra http://www.spectraphysicaltherapy.com/index.html, I was pleased. I had heard many good things about the therapists at Spectra, it is convenient to my house, and they do accept my insurance.
PT has been an interesting experience for me. I have never done PT before. The evaluation was pretty much what I would have expected. I started on traction, which was great, but the blinds in the windows above me "moved" and caused me to experience nausea. So, after the second time, I brought an eye mask to wear while I am in traction.
That is a totally unique experience. Being trussed up in traction is an intimidating experience. You are at the mercy of the traction machine and the professionals. The professionals are very reassuring and comforting, but still, what if.... You are given a "panic" button to push if anything feels off, wrong, or heaven forbid, painful.
So, I enter into the therapy session, let them truss me up, put my glasses on a shelf, and cover my eyes. Although from the past sessions I know the traction is indeed relaxing, can you imagine how vulnerable you might feel if you cannot see, and are trussed up. The therapists are great. They acknowledge when they approach and what they are going to do. The appreciate my motion sickness with the blinds. They make it an almost stress less experience. I still have a touch of "what if" in my mind set when I have my eyes covered.
But, the traction does what it is supposed to do for my back, and the absence of a sense of nausea is great. Traction becomes almost a meditative experience for me..
So, while I feel vulnerable with my eyes covered, which, by the way is totally under my control, I feel 100% confident in my health care providers when I am in physical therapy.
PT has been an interesting experience for me. I have never done PT before. The evaluation was pretty much what I would have expected. I started on traction, which was great, but the blinds in the windows above me "moved" and caused me to experience nausea. So, after the second time, I brought an eye mask to wear while I am in traction.
That is a totally unique experience. Being trussed up in traction is an intimidating experience. You are at the mercy of the traction machine and the professionals. The professionals are very reassuring and comforting, but still, what if.... You are given a "panic" button to push if anything feels off, wrong, or heaven forbid, painful.
So, I enter into the therapy session, let them truss me up, put my glasses on a shelf, and cover my eyes. Although from the past sessions I know the traction is indeed relaxing, can you imagine how vulnerable you might feel if you cannot see, and are trussed up. The therapists are great. They acknowledge when they approach and what they are going to do. The appreciate my motion sickness with the blinds. They make it an almost stress less experience. I still have a touch of "what if" in my mind set when I have my eyes covered.
But, the traction does what it is supposed to do for my back, and the absence of a sense of nausea is great. Traction becomes almost a meditative experience for me..
So, while I feel vulnerable with my eyes covered, which, by the way is totally under my control, I feel 100% confident in my health care providers when I am in physical therapy.
Taki's Quirks
Taki has some interesting quirky behaviors. Most recently, she has taken to sitting next to the laptop computer, and putting her paws on the keyboard. Not standing on the keyboard, but hunched next to it, and spreading her "forearms" and paws to rest lightly on the keyboard. I keep telling her she is not allowed on the keyboard. She is smart and picks up on the "nos" quickly, when she wants to. She does not want to for this quirk.
Also, Taki has long lusted to play with the chain controls for the ceiling fan over my bed. Pre-Taki, I had extended chains that were about 8-12" above the mattress. Taki has taken to wanting to play with them. I have visions of her pulling the ceiling fan down. I have removed the extended chains, and knotted the remaining chain up above the mattress about 18". Taki still jumps to play with them. A problem I need to revisit this weekend, and see what I can do to make it safer.
Also, Taki has long lusted to play with the chain controls for the ceiling fan over my bed. Pre-Taki, I had extended chains that were about 8-12" above the mattress. Taki has taken to wanting to play with them. I have visions of her pulling the ceiling fan down. I have removed the extended chains, and knotted the remaining chain up above the mattress about 18". Taki still jumps to play with them. A problem I need to revisit this weekend, and see what I can do to make it safer.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
What You Put Into It is What You Get Out of It
As a correctional social worker at a prison, I find myself saying the title "What you put into it is what you get out of it" a lot. We no longer do groups, so we give out written material to patients, with information that would be discussed in groups if we did them. Our job is to encourage the patient to become motivated to read through and use the materials to their advantage. We call it the "In Cell" program, because that is where the patient studies the materials.
I have recently started physical therapy, and I have taken the attitude of "what I put into it is what I will get out of it," so I am trying to do well in the sessions, and follow up using the materials and exercises I am given for out side the sessions. Somethings just will not happen, like not getting rid of my overstuffed sofa, but I am trying.
I am realizing how much I appreciate the positive and supportive comments of the various therapists in the session. And, how it makes me want to try harder. A student intern helped me today. He was helpful, supportive, encouraging, informative, interactive. He did a really good job. I need to tell the therapist about that.
I try to be that kind of social worker for my patients at the prison: encouraging and supportive. I have found myself, though, sometimes being more assertive and confrontational with them. I think that is because so often, we suspect our patients are not as sick as they would have us believe and are using the hospital setting for secondary gain.
When someone is truly doing well, though, I do try to encourage and support them. Today, I had two very interesting sessions with patients. One told me that "I know this stuff, but I guess it does no good if I don't apply it." We were able to talk about his barriers to application, and we may want to focus on that again.
The other patient commented that he wants the staff to know that he is trying, but he feels like he will fail, and he has no positive expectation for a good result. We discussed his attitude, and how that kind of attitude will lead him to failure. We also talked about no "magic cures," no expectation for dramatic and overwhelming change, making one step at a time, doing one step at a time, and how he has years of habits (his age) to undo and redo. Ultimately, I told him that there is no "right or wrong" in terms of his efforts and outcomes, but the "right or wrong" is in terms of what he expects to achieve. And, if he is satisfied with less than more, we will not judge him on that, except in terms of if he needs to be in an inpatient setting. I think this patient "got this."
I think for most people who enter therapy, be it physical or psychological therapy, the hardest thing to accept is that it will not happen over night.
We are an instant society: instant gratification, immediate pain relief, 60 minute problem solving of crimes or other life sagas.
I do not look forward to weeks or even months of doing exercises at home, even after physical therapy has ceased. However, years ago, I had an arm problem. The doctor of osteopathy that I was using as my primary care physician at the time sent me home with a prescription for 30 days worth of Vioxx, and an exercise sheet. The exercises took about 20 minutes, and I was supposed to do them twice a day. I was about 90% diligent with the exercises. After the medication ended I went back to the provider. We were now into the "Vioxx scare" so he did not want to renew it. But, I could tell the exercises were more valuable than the medication. After several months, my arm felt better, and I finally stopped the exercises. I have kept the sheet, and even shared it with a coworker who told me it helped her.
Sometimes, there really are no "magic pills." It is about change for the better, doing what we should ido nstead of what is easier, and remembering that what we put into it is what we get out of it.
I have recently started physical therapy, and I have taken the attitude of "what I put into it is what I will get out of it," so I am trying to do well in the sessions, and follow up using the materials and exercises I am given for out side the sessions. Somethings just will not happen, like not getting rid of my overstuffed sofa, but I am trying.
I am realizing how much I appreciate the positive and supportive comments of the various therapists in the session. And, how it makes me want to try harder. A student intern helped me today. He was helpful, supportive, encouraging, informative, interactive. He did a really good job. I need to tell the therapist about that.
I try to be that kind of social worker for my patients at the prison: encouraging and supportive. I have found myself, though, sometimes being more assertive and confrontational with them. I think that is because so often, we suspect our patients are not as sick as they would have us believe and are using the hospital setting for secondary gain.
When someone is truly doing well, though, I do try to encourage and support them. Today, I had two very interesting sessions with patients. One told me that "I know this stuff, but I guess it does no good if I don't apply it." We were able to talk about his barriers to application, and we may want to focus on that again.
The other patient commented that he wants the staff to know that he is trying, but he feels like he will fail, and he has no positive expectation for a good result. We discussed his attitude, and how that kind of attitude will lead him to failure. We also talked about no "magic cures," no expectation for dramatic and overwhelming change, making one step at a time, doing one step at a time, and how he has years of habits (his age) to undo and redo. Ultimately, I told him that there is no "right or wrong" in terms of his efforts and outcomes, but the "right or wrong" is in terms of what he expects to achieve. And, if he is satisfied with less than more, we will not judge him on that, except in terms of if he needs to be in an inpatient setting. I think this patient "got this."
I think for most people who enter therapy, be it physical or psychological therapy, the hardest thing to accept is that it will not happen over night.
We are an instant society: instant gratification, immediate pain relief, 60 minute problem solving of crimes or other life sagas.
I do not look forward to weeks or even months of doing exercises at home, even after physical therapy has ceased. However, years ago, I had an arm problem. The doctor of osteopathy that I was using as my primary care physician at the time sent me home with a prescription for 30 days worth of Vioxx, and an exercise sheet. The exercises took about 20 minutes, and I was supposed to do them twice a day. I was about 90% diligent with the exercises. After the medication ended I went back to the provider. We were now into the "Vioxx scare" so he did not want to renew it. But, I could tell the exercises were more valuable than the medication. After several months, my arm felt better, and I finally stopped the exercises. I have kept the sheet, and even shared it with a coworker who told me it helped her.
Sometimes, there really are no "magic pills." It is about change for the better, doing what we should ido nstead of what is easier, and remembering that what we put into it is what we get out of it.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Daylight Savings Time on KCBD
On Sunday morning, I watch Daybreak Today on KCBD, Channel 11 http://www.kcbd.com/ in Lubbock, Texas. So, I watched it this morning, and was appalled that the weekend anchor, Annie Taylor, and the weekend forecaster, Cutter Martin kept referring to Daylight Savings Time starting. Daylight Savings Time ended this morning. The headline on the KCBD website is just this, that Daylight Savings Time is ending this morning.
So why did these two get it wrong? Who knows. They are young and their broadcast always seems to have a bit of immaturity in it. Why do I watch. It is easy to watch, they do some local news, and it is on before Texas Country Reporter.
But, I do not always take what they say seriously. I did not this morning. Cutter said the sun rose earlier this morning. That is so untrue. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=544&month=11&year=2013&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1 The sun actually rose a minute later than it did the day before. But because of the time change, it apparently rose 59 minutes earlier.
So why did these two get it wrong? Who knows. They are young and their broadcast always seems to have a bit of immaturity in it. Why do I watch. It is easy to watch, they do some local news, and it is on before Texas Country Reporter.
But, I do not always take what they say seriously. I did not this morning. Cutter said the sun rose earlier this morning. That is so untrue. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=544&month=11&year=2013&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1 The sun actually rose a minute later than it did the day before. But because of the time change, it apparently rose 59 minutes earlier.
Activities and Exercise
I have experienced degenerative pain for some years, and have really limited my activities because of it. Over the years, I have not done a lot of things I enjoyed, but did everything I still absolutely wanted to do, even if it involved walking or standing, which aggravated the pain.
Sometimes doing things took several hours longer than I would have normally spent on the activity, because I needed to rest more than I would have before the degenerative pain started. I am referring to such things as house work and yard work.
Recently, I went to the doctor and obtained a prescription for medication, and was referred to physical therapy for the problem. The first weekend I had the prescription, I felt so much better, I really over did the physical activity. The second weekend, I rested.
Since I started going to physical therapy, I have made a point to do the exercises prescribed at home as instructed. I find most of them soothing, and while I sometimes have the TV on when I do the exercises, I find doing them to Gregorian Chants is even more soothing.
I also was given some very helpful reading materials about accommodations and adaptations I could use to help me. Amazingly, I had already made a lot of the accommodations: I use shorter strokes for raking, mopping, and vacuuming. I take lots of rest breaks, but probably not as many as I should have been taking. I recently bought a book stand to prop my book, as I was finding that I was looking for something to hold a book up while I was reading it.
I have learned about changing my posture and musculature positions to help me. It is difficult for me to remember to use these changes, but I am trying, at work and at home. It is a work in progress.
I have noticed that I have much more mental energy since I have been getting this help. Today, I wanted to do some serious house cleaning that is much past due, and makes me depressed to look at the dirtiness in the house. Well, I kept putting off getting started, because I kept thinking how it might hurt. It did not hurt as I expected it to, until near the end. And, I took breaks very frequently, much more so than I might have in the past. (I used to force myself to work through the pain.)
I have a plan to work in the front and back yard on Sunday (actually today). I will also go slow and take plenty of breaks, and try to use better positioning and posture.
I had also thought to go for a walk to get some things at a local store. I had not thought to walk like that in a long time. I did not do the walk, but just thinking about it vs more recently avoiding thinking about walking much less going for a walk, is a good thing.
I am hoping when the medication and physical therapy have done their thing, I will be able to walk around my neighborhood as I used to do. I miss these walks. I miss walking in the city parks, and walking to bird watch, as well as hiking at area parks.
I am not sure I will get back to miles of hiking but I am hoping to get back to a mile or two of walking.
Sometimes doing things took several hours longer than I would have normally spent on the activity, because I needed to rest more than I would have before the degenerative pain started. I am referring to such things as house work and yard work.
Recently, I went to the doctor and obtained a prescription for medication, and was referred to physical therapy for the problem. The first weekend I had the prescription, I felt so much better, I really over did the physical activity. The second weekend, I rested.
Since I started going to physical therapy, I have made a point to do the exercises prescribed at home as instructed. I find most of them soothing, and while I sometimes have the TV on when I do the exercises, I find doing them to Gregorian Chants is even more soothing.
I also was given some very helpful reading materials about accommodations and adaptations I could use to help me. Amazingly, I had already made a lot of the accommodations: I use shorter strokes for raking, mopping, and vacuuming. I take lots of rest breaks, but probably not as many as I should have been taking. I recently bought a book stand to prop my book, as I was finding that I was looking for something to hold a book up while I was reading it.
I have learned about changing my posture and musculature positions to help me. It is difficult for me to remember to use these changes, but I am trying, at work and at home. It is a work in progress.
I have noticed that I have much more mental energy since I have been getting this help. Today, I wanted to do some serious house cleaning that is much past due, and makes me depressed to look at the dirtiness in the house. Well, I kept putting off getting started, because I kept thinking how it might hurt. It did not hurt as I expected it to, until near the end. And, I took breaks very frequently, much more so than I might have in the past. (I used to force myself to work through the pain.)
I have a plan to work in the front and back yard on Sunday (actually today). I will also go slow and take plenty of breaks, and try to use better positioning and posture.
I had also thought to go for a walk to get some things at a local store. I had not thought to walk like that in a long time. I did not do the walk, but just thinking about it vs more recently avoiding thinking about walking much less going for a walk, is a good thing.
I am hoping when the medication and physical therapy have done their thing, I will be able to walk around my neighborhood as I used to do. I miss these walks. I miss walking in the city parks, and walking to bird watch, as well as hiking at area parks.
I am not sure I will get back to miles of hiking but I am hoping to get back to a mile or two of walking.
Amenities and Services
So, I am going to a national conference in a high dollar hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. I am looking forward to this conference. I am going as a board member for a not for profit social service organization. I am not sure I will get to do much sight seeing in Atlanta, but that is not the reason I am going to Atlanta.
I was checking out the amenities and services of the hotel. I am used to looking for economy motels that offer all kinds of services. The hotel I am going to offers wireless access for $14.95 a day. That is nuts! I know this is a big city hotel, and it caters to business people who have expense accounts, and can expense their wireless service.
I like to travel with my laptop. I am trying to decide if I want to travel with my laptop this time, knowing that I will not pay $14.95 for wireless access at the hotel.
Even if I do not have wireless access, I can do notes and blogging off line, and upload it at a later date.
Hmmm. I will have to decide what to do.
I was checking out the amenities and services of the hotel. I am used to looking for economy motels that offer all kinds of services. The hotel I am going to offers wireless access for $14.95 a day. That is nuts! I know this is a big city hotel, and it caters to business people who have expense accounts, and can expense their wireless service.
I like to travel with my laptop. I am trying to decide if I want to travel with my laptop this time, knowing that I will not pay $14.95 for wireless access at the hotel.
Even if I do not have wireless access, I can do notes and blogging off line, and upload it at a later date.
Hmmm. I will have to decide what to do.
Friday, November 1, 2013
A Trip to the Veterinarian and Unintended Consequences
So as I have noted before, Sake has not been doing well. She does not eat well and she has not been grooming herself. Her weight has declined over the years, from a chunky 13 pounds, to a svelte 8 pounds when she went to the vet last May for her shots. The vet thought 8 lbs was an okay weight for her, although I thought it was a little light, because I could feel her bones. But generally she was doing well, although she was not always grooming herself, but I was helping her and she was not doing so bad.
I do not know exactly when the problem began, but she stopped grooming and became a very picky eater. I know I have written about this before. Looking back, the problem got worse in September, and I have babied Sake, and tried multiple foods and types of foods. Sometimes she would eat well, sometimes she would not. She was still eating hard food until early October. But things seemed to be worse and worse.
I finally called the vet's office and explained the problem. They pulled the records and saw the problem. They suggested they could sedate her, but would ask me to sign a disclaimer if something happened to her under sedation. The day I called, Sake did not show up for breakfast, as she normally does, and I was feeling very hopeless. I responded that I understood the risks, but felt I needed to do something, because the situation was not acceptable to me as it was. I did not want Sake to die, but, if she is suffering, I needed to do something.
I got an appointment to bring Sake in for today. I was not sure about feeding her this morning, if they had to sedate her, but they did not tell me not to feed her, and she seemed hungry. She ate well. She did not hide, as she has done some mornings, and even wanted me to hold her, as she has, some mornings.
She did not resist when I put her in the crate, and I was amazed to learn, at the vet office, that she had only lost .5 lbs. But, for an 8 lb cat, that is a lot of weight loss. Sake let me take her out of the crate in the examination room. While we were waiting, one of the techs wanted to bring a pit bull through the room to get a weight. I asked them to use a different room. He did. Sake barely let the veterinarian examine her, but he identified a gum infection almost immediately. He said she needed an antibiotic and a cortisone shot. Sake maintained her composure until the vet swabbed her for the injections. We threw a towel over her, a vet tech and I held her down, and we herded her into the crate easily after the injections.
When I took her home, she was eager to get out of the crate. Atypically, she let me hold her and caress her after she got out of the crate. I petted her for a while before I went to work.
I left the crate in the kitchen. I always clean out the crates after I use them. Usually I will put them on the washing machine, or in the garage, until I can clean them. Today, I left the crate on the kitchen floor.
When I got home from work tonight, Sake was at the door, and she wanted into the garage. Very shortly, she wanted back into the house. I put out a whole jar of baby food chicken. Whereas she was not eating a half jar of food before, she ate about 80% of the jar. Wow! I could tell she felt more energetic, too. Later in the evening, she ate some more of the baby food chicken, and then ate some hard food treats! I am so pleased.
She let me do a little grooming, but not much. That is okay. As she feels better, she and I will work on that.
Haiku came into the kitchen for dinner, but Taki did not. I found her cowering under the bed in the spare bedroom. She let me get her out and walk her around the house, but the problem became apparent in the kitchen, where the crate was on the floor. She was very scared of the crate. She went into the garage for a while, but when I brought her back into the house, her fears had not diminished. I let her be, and cleaned out the crate, and put it away.
I found Taki again, and walked her around the house, in the kitchen, and the living room. When I walked her through the bedroom, and she could see the crate in the bedroom closet, she became very upset again. I worked with her for a while, and she settled down.
I have to wonder if she was so frightened, that Taki spent the day under the bed in the spare bedroom. That makes me feel bad. I got her out once, but the crate was still in the kitchen , and it frightened her. I did not realize that would happen. She ended up under the bed a second time, and when I got her out, I had cleaned the crate and put it up. She still identified the crate as bad, but was not as anxious about it.
I got out the catnip mist and sprayed the scratching posts and the cat tree.
I think it helped when I was doing my physical therapy exercises. All three cats joined me in the living room. Sake sat on the towel and belt that I use, for a while. Haiku and Taki just watched my behavior. That was good.
Sake seemed to be cool. Like, this is okay, and I am okay. Haiku was a little skittish, but was okay. Taki settled down when I was doing my physical therapy exercise. She wants to be with me when am doing them, but was a little skittish tonight. But her desire to be with me won out, and she is doing okay now.
So, I think the girls are okay now, although I am still concerned about Sake. We will pay close attention to her.
I do not know exactly when the problem began, but she stopped grooming and became a very picky eater. I know I have written about this before. Looking back, the problem got worse in September, and I have babied Sake, and tried multiple foods and types of foods. Sometimes she would eat well, sometimes she would not. She was still eating hard food until early October. But things seemed to be worse and worse.
I finally called the vet's office and explained the problem. They pulled the records and saw the problem. They suggested they could sedate her, but would ask me to sign a disclaimer if something happened to her under sedation. The day I called, Sake did not show up for breakfast, as she normally does, and I was feeling very hopeless. I responded that I understood the risks, but felt I needed to do something, because the situation was not acceptable to me as it was. I did not want Sake to die, but, if she is suffering, I needed to do something.
I got an appointment to bring Sake in for today. I was not sure about feeding her this morning, if they had to sedate her, but they did not tell me not to feed her, and she seemed hungry. She ate well. She did not hide, as she has done some mornings, and even wanted me to hold her, as she has, some mornings.
She did not resist when I put her in the crate, and I was amazed to learn, at the vet office, that she had only lost .5 lbs. But, for an 8 lb cat, that is a lot of weight loss. Sake let me take her out of the crate in the examination room. While we were waiting, one of the techs wanted to bring a pit bull through the room to get a weight. I asked them to use a different room. He did. Sake barely let the veterinarian examine her, but he identified a gum infection almost immediately. He said she needed an antibiotic and a cortisone shot. Sake maintained her composure until the vet swabbed her for the injections. We threw a towel over her, a vet tech and I held her down, and we herded her into the crate easily after the injections.
When I took her home, she was eager to get out of the crate. Atypically, she let me hold her and caress her after she got out of the crate. I petted her for a while before I went to work.
I left the crate in the kitchen. I always clean out the crates after I use them. Usually I will put them on the washing machine, or in the garage, until I can clean them. Today, I left the crate on the kitchen floor.
When I got home from work tonight, Sake was at the door, and she wanted into the garage. Very shortly, she wanted back into the house. I put out a whole jar of baby food chicken. Whereas she was not eating a half jar of food before, she ate about 80% of the jar. Wow! I could tell she felt more energetic, too. Later in the evening, she ate some more of the baby food chicken, and then ate some hard food treats! I am so pleased.
She let me do a little grooming, but not much. That is okay. As she feels better, she and I will work on that.
Haiku came into the kitchen for dinner, but Taki did not. I found her cowering under the bed in the spare bedroom. She let me get her out and walk her around the house, but the problem became apparent in the kitchen, where the crate was on the floor. She was very scared of the crate. She went into the garage for a while, but when I brought her back into the house, her fears had not diminished. I let her be, and cleaned out the crate, and put it away.
I found Taki again, and walked her around the house, in the kitchen, and the living room. When I walked her through the bedroom, and she could see the crate in the bedroom closet, she became very upset again. I worked with her for a while, and she settled down.
I have to wonder if she was so frightened, that Taki spent the day under the bed in the spare bedroom. That makes me feel bad. I got her out once, but the crate was still in the kitchen , and it frightened her. I did not realize that would happen. She ended up under the bed a second time, and when I got her out, I had cleaned the crate and put it up. She still identified the crate as bad, but was not as anxious about it.
I got out the catnip mist and sprayed the scratching posts and the cat tree.
I think it helped when I was doing my physical therapy exercises. All three cats joined me in the living room. Sake sat on the towel and belt that I use, for a while. Haiku and Taki just watched my behavior. That was good.
Sake seemed to be cool. Like, this is okay, and I am okay. Haiku was a little skittish, but was okay. Taki settled down when I was doing my physical therapy exercise. She wants to be with me when am doing them, but was a little skittish tonight. But her desire to be with me won out, and she is doing okay now.
So, I think the girls are okay now, although I am still concerned about Sake. We will pay close attention to her.
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