I like Halloween. I do not do costumes, but I like handing out treats, seeing the costumes of the trick or treaters, and having a jack o'lantern. I did not do a jack o'lantern this year. Friday night, I go to the pool for my physical therapy routine, and I was not sure what time I would get home from that. I did not want to have a jack o'lantern out, even if it was not lit, if I was not home. Well, as it turned out, I completed my time at work, got to the pool, did my routine, and got home in plenty of time for trick or treat.
But trick or treat started late this year. Oh well.
I remember one year, when Mack and I lived in the duplex, it was a beautiful night for trick or treat. In the duplex, Mack had no outlet: to go to the back yard, he had to go out through the front door. There was no back door. So, he did not do well with trick or treat. He barked and barked and barked when strangers came to the door and he was in the house. But he did not want to be in the back yard. Since it was a pretty that night, I put on my jacket, took the treats, and sat at the front door. When people approached the front door, I sat very still, but before they could knock, I would say "Boo." I really scared a lot of people. They got candy, and this kept Mack from barking and barking and barking.
When we moved to this house, Mack would retreat to the back yard on Halloween. He just did not want to deal with all the traffic at the door. He seemed to understand that it was okay, but his instinct was to bark every time someone knocked, and it was a hassle. That was okay for me.
Hmmm. Next year, Halloween is on Saturday night. If the weather is nice, maybe I can have a jack o'lantern, sit on the porch dressed as a "bag lady" (I am a bag lady, believe me) and give out treats. That would be fun.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Trick or Treat and Friday Night Football
It is Halloween on Friday night. In Texas, in autumn, Friday night (high school) football is sacrosanct. Nothing interferes, not even trick or treat. The local news tonight said to expect that trick or treat would not start until after 10 PM, when the Friday night football games finished!
There are a few communities around who had trick or treat last night, so as not to interfere with Friday night football. Many of the small towns around cancelled trick or treat, and/or did trick or trunk http://www.trunkortreat.us/what.html at the football games: before, during, at half time and/or after the game. Especially for the small communities, this makes so much sense!
There are a few communities around who had trick or treat last night, so as not to interfere with Friday night football. Many of the small towns around cancelled trick or treat, and/or did trick or trunk http://www.trunkortreat.us/what.html at the football games: before, during, at half time and/or after the game. Especially for the small communities, this makes so much sense!
Kitties and Halloween
It is Halloween, and trick or treat started late tonight. I was beginning to think I would not have any trick or treaters. A local church did "Trunk or Treat" http://www.trunkortreat.us/what.html on Wednesday night. Also, Friday night football probably is taking precedence over trick or treat. The local news said to expect trick or treat to start about 10 PM, after the Friday night football games were done! (I will probably close my door and shut my light off before 10 PM. I shut down when the trick or treaters are older people and not young kids.)
I opened the front door, kept the storm door locked, and put the front light on. I put a chair near the front door so I could keep the bag of candy nearby. Sake wants to be isolated in the garage lately, so that is where she is tonight. Taki wanted to be in the computer room, as did Haiku. Taki was content to lie there. Haiku wanted something, but not to be held and they have multiple food choices available.
So, anyway, it was well after dark when the first trick or treaters knocked on my door. Taki hid. Haiku wanted to check this out. In fact, she checked out the first couple of groups at the door. I would step outside, and shut her in (I don't think she would escape, because she rarely does, but she does.)
So, after a bit, I put her in the cat stroller, and left the door open. She likes the cat stroller, and is in and out of it a lot. For tonight, it gives her a perfect view of the door and our visitors, but keeps her away from the door, so I do not have to worry about escape as much.
This seems to be the status quo tonight for trick or treat and kitties.
I opened the front door, kept the storm door locked, and put the front light on. I put a chair near the front door so I could keep the bag of candy nearby. Sake wants to be isolated in the garage lately, so that is where she is tonight. Taki wanted to be in the computer room, as did Haiku. Taki was content to lie there. Haiku wanted something, but not to be held and they have multiple food choices available.
So, anyway, it was well after dark when the first trick or treaters knocked on my door. Taki hid. Haiku wanted to check this out. In fact, she checked out the first couple of groups at the door. I would step outside, and shut her in (I don't think she would escape, because she rarely does, but she does.)
So, after a bit, I put her in the cat stroller, and left the door open. She likes the cat stroller, and is in and out of it a lot. For tonight, it gives her a perfect view of the door and our visitors, but keeps her away from the door, so I do not have to worry about escape as much.
This seems to be the status quo tonight for trick or treat and kitties.
Patience
I had no patience, growing up. And I had no sense of timing and barged in, did not wait, and just stepped all over myself and other people in my eagerness to complete, do, perform, act. This hurt some relationships. But mostly, it hurt me because I did not understand about patience.
All my work life, I felt I needed to produce. Of course, when I worked in the tobacco fields as a teenager, or the napkin factory as a young adult, I had to keep up with the speed of required production. I think this conditioned me to know that I had quotas and deadlines and I had to always be busy.
The hardest adjustment I made when I went to work at the prison was to learn patience. I had to learn to wait on the officer who would unlock one of the six locked doors through which I have to pass to get into my work area. I had to learn patience until the officer in the "sally port" could pass a key to me through the pass through box.
I had to learn patience because I was at the mercy of correctional officers who would bring my patients from their cells to the interview room for me to speak to them. I had to accept that count time stopped movement, and chow time stopped movement. I had to accept that understaffed areas stopped movement. I had to learn that some officers just were resistant to bringing out patients for interview, and would move papers, avoid eye contact, talk to other officers and in general would not do their job which includes bringing out patients so clinicians can interview them.
Today, I needed to see a patient. It was count time, and one of the officers was training two new on the job trainees (OJTs) about count time. I knew it was count time, but as timing would have it, I had just finished the chart review I wanted to do before I interviewed the patient. So, I waited in my office to allow for count. Because there were some trainees, it took a little longer and was not quite finished when I did go to the pod.
Also waiting on the pod was a transport officer. His job is to escort patients to the infirmary for medical appointments. He was just waiting at the desk. (He had to wait for count to be completed, also.) As I stood at the desk waiting for the officers to complete count, he asked me what I needed to do. I responded, and he repeated my need to the other officers just sitting there, letting the OJTs and their monitor do count.
This transport officer is one who is appropriate, polite to staff and offenders, always does his job well. He is always helpful, always prompt to respond, and will even help bring out patients on rows where he is not assigned. He also has a good, appropriate sense of humor and is in general a nice person to work with. Except some officers think he is too helpful to clinical staff. (Isn't that sad? I mean, that is large part of their job.)
I thanked him for running interference for me today. (He has done this before for me.) I told him I was waiting for count to clear, and I could see it had not. He acknowledged that and said he knew they were far enough along to bring out the patient I needed to see.
We engaged in a discussion. I told him that the hardest thing for me to learn when I came to work at the prison was to wait. That it was okay to wait, and sometimes, expected that we would wait. He acknowledged and said it was also difficult for him to learn. He commented that all of his previous jobs were productions jobs where you had to be busy all the time, and if you were not, you had to learn to look busy all of the time.
I told him that learning patience was a blessing for me, because I have learned to transfer that skill to my "outside" life, and the quality of my life has improved. I am able to relax, let things take their course, and recognize when I have done all I can do and I need to let time pass as it needs to. He told me he, too felt that his personal had improved because he has learned to be patient.
It is not often that I get to engage in a philosophical discussion with a correctional officer regarding something other than "this patient does not need to be here." I enjoy the kind of philosophical sharing I did today regarding patience.
All my work life, I felt I needed to produce. Of course, when I worked in the tobacco fields as a teenager, or the napkin factory as a young adult, I had to keep up with the speed of required production. I think this conditioned me to know that I had quotas and deadlines and I had to always be busy.
The hardest adjustment I made when I went to work at the prison was to learn patience. I had to learn to wait on the officer who would unlock one of the six locked doors through which I have to pass to get into my work area. I had to learn patience until the officer in the "sally port" could pass a key to me through the pass through box.
I had to learn patience because I was at the mercy of correctional officers who would bring my patients from their cells to the interview room for me to speak to them. I had to accept that count time stopped movement, and chow time stopped movement. I had to accept that understaffed areas stopped movement. I had to learn that some officers just were resistant to bringing out patients for interview, and would move papers, avoid eye contact, talk to other officers and in general would not do their job which includes bringing out patients so clinicians can interview them.
Today, I needed to see a patient. It was count time, and one of the officers was training two new on the job trainees (OJTs) about count time. I knew it was count time, but as timing would have it, I had just finished the chart review I wanted to do before I interviewed the patient. So, I waited in my office to allow for count. Because there were some trainees, it took a little longer and was not quite finished when I did go to the pod.
Also waiting on the pod was a transport officer. His job is to escort patients to the infirmary for medical appointments. He was just waiting at the desk. (He had to wait for count to be completed, also.) As I stood at the desk waiting for the officers to complete count, he asked me what I needed to do. I responded, and he repeated my need to the other officers just sitting there, letting the OJTs and their monitor do count.
This transport officer is one who is appropriate, polite to staff and offenders, always does his job well. He is always helpful, always prompt to respond, and will even help bring out patients on rows where he is not assigned. He also has a good, appropriate sense of humor and is in general a nice person to work with. Except some officers think he is too helpful to clinical staff. (Isn't that sad? I mean, that is large part of their job.)
I thanked him for running interference for me today. (He has done this before for me.) I told him I was waiting for count to clear, and I could see it had not. He acknowledged that and said he knew they were far enough along to bring out the patient I needed to see.
We engaged in a discussion. I told him that the hardest thing for me to learn when I came to work at the prison was to wait. That it was okay to wait, and sometimes, expected that we would wait. He acknowledged and said it was also difficult for him to learn. He commented that all of his previous jobs were productions jobs where you had to be busy all the time, and if you were not, you had to learn to look busy all of the time.
I told him that learning patience was a blessing for me, because I have learned to transfer that skill to my "outside" life, and the quality of my life has improved. I am able to relax, let things take their course, and recognize when I have done all I can do and I need to let time pass as it needs to. He told me he, too felt that his personal had improved because he has learned to be patient.
It is not often that I get to engage in a philosophical discussion with a correctional officer regarding something other than "this patient does not need to be here." I enjoy the kind of philosophical sharing I did today regarding patience.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Sending Emails
So, recently, I have sent some emails. I sent an email to President Obama, supporting his efforts to provide emergency help and re-educate Central Americans regarding the immigration policies of the United States. I agreed with him that we needed to do something to offer a humane response to the people coming from Central American with false expectations of humanitarian assistance from this country. I agreed we needed to provide humane aid, and we could not ignore the problem of the need of political asylum. That could not we ignore the needs of the immigrants who made it to the United States. And that we needed to educate the citizens of the countries of Central America that the United States could not always offer the asylum they wanted. On the other hand, we needed to be sensitive as a country to their dire and desperate needs for asylum.
It took several weeks, but I received a very canned form letter from the Office of the President. But, I did receive a response. By the time I received the response there were so many other emergency issues in the world, that the response seemed very anti-climactic.
Last week, I sent an email to the Prime Minister of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., expressing my condolences to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, and to the Canadian peoples. I was horrified at the terroristic attacks on Canada, I received a response today. I was surprised at receiving a response. It, too was a "canned" response, but it was very timely, and lent the air of concern and interest.
Monday night, I sent an email to the mayor of Lubbock, http://www.ci.lubbock.tx.us/city-council/mayor Glen Robertson. I had been at the Mahon Branch of the Library of the city of Lubbock, http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/library/library-home. The light in the primary parking lot of the library was out, and I was concerned about safety for library customers. I sent an email to the mayor about that. I was astonished to receive a phone call from the mayor's office.
This was a bit of a misdirection phone call: The information was that the light had not been out long, the Lubbock Power and Light was having some difficulty getting it repaired, that the mayor's office was concerned about Library customer safety. They would keep me advised.
Well, I understand it might take a few days to replace lights.
But Lubbock Power and Light is not getting any slack from me. The incestuous political dealings in Lubbock have given Lubbock Power and Light free rein to misbehave, provide poor service, and to gouge citizens for electric service costs. They increase rates wantonly, and because the City of Lubbock voted to expel Excel http://www.xcelenergy.com/. there is no competition for LP&L.
So, anything the mayor's office tells me about the workings of LP&L is taken with a grain of salt. The mayor's office said I would be apprised of the progress of getting the light fixed. I think LP&L is "blowing smoke" to the mayor's office, and they are complicit with this.
I will be agreeably surprised if this is not the case. This is one email I can follow up on.
It took several weeks, but I received a very canned form letter from the Office of the President. But, I did receive a response. By the time I received the response there were so many other emergency issues in the world, that the response seemed very anti-climactic.
Last week, I sent an email to the Prime Minister of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., expressing my condolences to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, and to the Canadian peoples. I was horrified at the terroristic attacks on Canada, I received a response today. I was surprised at receiving a response. It, too was a "canned" response, but it was very timely, and lent the air of concern and interest.
Monday night, I sent an email to the mayor of Lubbock, http://www.ci.lubbock.tx.us/city-council/mayor Glen Robertson. I had been at the Mahon Branch of the Library of the city of Lubbock, http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/library/library-home. The light in the primary parking lot of the library was out, and I was concerned about safety for library customers. I sent an email to the mayor about that. I was astonished to receive a phone call from the mayor's office.
This was a bit of a misdirection phone call: The information was that the light had not been out long, the Lubbock Power and Light was having some difficulty getting it repaired, that the mayor's office was concerned about Library customer safety. They would keep me advised.
Well, I understand it might take a few days to replace lights.
But Lubbock Power and Light is not getting any slack from me. The incestuous political dealings in Lubbock have given Lubbock Power and Light free rein to misbehave, provide poor service, and to gouge citizens for electric service costs. They increase rates wantonly, and because the City of Lubbock voted to expel Excel http://www.xcelenergy.com/. there is no competition for LP&L.
So, anything the mayor's office tells me about the workings of LP&L is taken with a grain of salt. The mayor's office said I would be apprised of the progress of getting the light fixed. I think LP&L is "blowing smoke" to the mayor's office, and they are complicit with this.
I will be agreeably surprised if this is not the case. This is one email I can follow up on.
Writing Letters
In high school, I discovered that if you send letters to politicians or corporations, there is a very good chance that you will receive a response. I did not send spurious letters, but letters of interest to me. And, I received responses.
In the late 1980s, I discovered Lazlo Toth by Don Novello http://www.amazon.com/The-Lazlo-Letters-Don-Novello/dp/1563052857. His letters were generally sent in jest, but he frequently received serious or satirical responses. He has three books that you can find on the website, and that I own.
Over the years, I got out of the habit of sending letters. But, with the advent of the Internet, sending emails has become easy. The sad part about that is that the volume of emails usually precludes a response, or the response is not timely, or so canned that it is meaningless.
But sending letters is still important.
In the late 1980s, I discovered Lazlo Toth by Don Novello http://www.amazon.com/The-Lazlo-Letters-Don-Novello/dp/1563052857. His letters were generally sent in jest, but he frequently received serious or satirical responses. He has three books that you can find on the website, and that I own.
Over the years, I got out of the habit of sending letters. But, with the advent of the Internet, sending emails has become easy. The sad part about that is that the volume of emails usually precludes a response, or the response is not timely, or so canned that it is meaningless.
But sending letters is still important.
Taki Wanted Something
Taki wanted something tonight. She grabbed my knee, which is her signal to me. I picked her up and gave her a hug. Then, I went to the kitchen. She followed me, but she did not stay there. She made her way to the living room, and hopped up on the sofa, where she sits to watch when I exercise. So, I did a quick exercise. And she acted as if she was bored! I do not know what she wanted, so I returned to the computer!
The Wall
I did not have a plan for after work tonight, but I thought I might do something after I fed the cats. But, when I got home, I "hit the wall." I realized I was hungry, and very, very tired. I was hungry because I had a light lunch, but should have had an afternoon snack, at least a piece of fruit. Although I had fruit in my office at work, a did not think about a snack. I need to do that. It gives me fuel to get through doing things after work. I know that. Last night, I had a can of tomato juice before I went to the pool, for that very reason.
So I fixed a quick light dinner. And sank down into ease on a chair. I gave into my wall.
So I fixed a quick light dinner. And sank down into ease on a chair. I gave into my wall.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Paper Towels - Select a Size
I was raised in a household that had paper towels, but did not use them. We used cloth towels for most things, rags for the really messy, nasty stuff that would be so bad the rag would need to be thrown away. Or, sometimes we used rags, and washed them.
I lived much of my adult life like that, also. But "select a size" changed that. Some paper towel manufacturers have decreased the size of the towel, so you can use half as much for each chore. This was marketing genius as far as I am concerned. I am not as hesitant to use a half sheet size paper towel for a small mess, where as when I only had access to the large sheet, and needed less, it was a waste, so I did not use paper towel.
So, I use more paper towels now than I ever have in my life!
I lived much of my adult life like that, also. But "select a size" changed that. Some paper towel manufacturers have decreased the size of the towel, so you can use half as much for each chore. This was marketing genius as far as I am concerned. I am not as hesitant to use a half sheet size paper towel for a small mess, where as when I only had access to the large sheet, and needed less, it was a waste, so I did not use paper towel.
So, I use more paper towels now than I ever have in my life!
The World Series
I like baseball, but I usually only watch it if it is a team that I really like. Mostly the Red Sox, the Yankees, and now, the Diamondbacks. None of "my" teams made to the post season, and I am not a San Francisco Giants fan, nor a Kansas City Royals fan.
But I am a fan of the underdog, and the Royals are the underdog: It has been since 1985 since they were in the World Series. So, here I am, watching the 7th game of the 2014 World Series. Although the individual games have not been especially close, the series has stayed close. Getting to game 7 is good.
I will post this before the winner is decided. Go baseball!
But I am a fan of the underdog, and the Royals are the underdog: It has been since 1985 since they were in the World Series. So, here I am, watching the 7th game of the 2014 World Series. Although the individual games have not been especially close, the series has stayed close. Getting to game 7 is good.
I will post this before the winner is decided. Go baseball!
Vote!
We are moving towards election day. This is what is termed a mid-term election, because it is half way through the term of the current president. Often, mid-term elections are not well voted in the United States. I think this is very sad.
Voting is one of the most important civic duties in which a citizen of any nation can participate. I try very hard not to miss the opportunity to vote, even in what some consider minor, local, unimportant elections. Every election is an opportunity for me to express my opinion, and personally, that is important!
In Texas, early voting is easy. There are many locations for early voting, including what might otherwise be considered non-traditional settings: the local grocery store! Of course, there are other more traditional polling places, especially on election day, such as churches, community centers, and schools.
I am proud to vote! I voted early today! Have you voted? Will you?
Voting is one of the most important civic duties in which a citizen of any nation can participate. I try very hard not to miss the opportunity to vote, even in what some consider minor, local, unimportant elections. Every election is an opportunity for me to express my opinion, and personally, that is important!
In Texas, early voting is easy. There are many locations for early voting, including what might otherwise be considered non-traditional settings: the local grocery store! Of course, there are other more traditional polling places, especially on election day, such as churches, community centers, and schools.
I am proud to vote! I voted early today! Have you voted? Will you?
Monday, October 27, 2014
I Am Blessed
I am on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities, Lubbock Diocese. I am not a practicing Catholic, and I know I had to have the Bishop's blessing to be on the board. I am thankful that my friend Arlene Brooks went to bat for me, as did, years ago, a now deceased board member, Joe Hart do the same.
Tonight, the Bishop hugged me and thanked me for joining in prayer at the Mass. I thanked him for having me, and he told me he prayed for me. I told him I need all the prayers I can get.
This means so much to me.
I am so blessed to be on the board of directors at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock http://www.cclubbock.org/. This is where I started my social work career, and I think it is fitting as I wane in my professional life, that I wane at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock.
Tonight, the Bishop hugged me and thanked me for joining in prayer at the Mass. I thanked him for having me, and he told me he prayed for me. I told him I need all the prayers I can get.
This means so much to me.
I am so blessed to be on the board of directors at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock http://www.cclubbock.org/. This is where I started my social work career, and I think it is fitting as I wane in my professional life, that I wane at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Autumn
I know so many people who comment on how much they like autumn. It is my favorite time of year. Although I love the renewal of spring, I love the calmness and settling of autumn. I love the crisping of air after the oppressive heat of summer. I like the smells of harvest, the harvest moon. I love the autumn holidays: Halloween, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving.
Autumn has some problems: ragweed and other pollen carriers, cotton fibers in the air from ginning, sometimes dust blown by the wind. For those of us with sinus problems and sensitivity to allergens, this time of year can cause sinus infections, bronchial infections, and other symptoms such as watery eyes. But all of that is manageable.
Autumn just has a mystery, a mystique and draw. I believe Bliss Carmen said it best:
There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood --
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.
The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.
There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.
Autumn has some problems: ragweed and other pollen carriers, cotton fibers in the air from ginning, sometimes dust blown by the wind. For those of us with sinus problems and sensitivity to allergens, this time of year can cause sinus infections, bronchial infections, and other symptoms such as watery eyes. But all of that is manageable.
Autumn just has a mystery, a mystique and draw. I believe Bliss Carmen said it best:
A Vagabond Song
By Bliss Carman
1861-1929There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood --
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.
The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.
There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.
Being Noticed
In August, I started going to the Covenant Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx to continue with physical therapy exercise routines in the pool that were helping me with pain management with bulging discs and sciatica. I am a true introvert. I can be outgoing if I need to in a professional or public situation. But, I am content to stay to myself.
Well, shortly after I started, one day a book club member showed up, and introduced me to one of her friends. Her friend has introduced me to others. I have also taken up superficial conversations with a few "regulars." And some have taken up conversations with me.
Because I am trying to focus on timing my routines (I probably should bring a timer, I keep thinking about it), I avoid a lot of conversation, because it distracts me and I lose track of time.
Well, one of the regulars that I have chatted with was there tonight. And commented that he had not seen me recently. And he was right. I missed a session on Sunday when my sinus infection really had me down, and did not want to spend my session in the pool sneezing, blowing my nose and coughing.
It made me feel good that someone noticed my absence. It is a small thing, but it is nice not to go unnoticed.
Well, shortly after I started, one day a book club member showed up, and introduced me to one of her friends. Her friend has introduced me to others. I have also taken up superficial conversations with a few "regulars." And some have taken up conversations with me.
Because I am trying to focus on timing my routines (I probably should bring a timer, I keep thinking about it), I avoid a lot of conversation, because it distracts me and I lose track of time.
Well, one of the regulars that I have chatted with was there tonight. And commented that he had not seen me recently. And he was right. I missed a session on Sunday when my sinus infection really had me down, and did not want to spend my session in the pool sneezing, blowing my nose and coughing.
It made me feel good that someone noticed my absence. It is a small thing, but it is nice not to go unnoticed.
My Heart and Prayers Go Out To All Canadians
Canada, its government and its people have been good neighbors to the United States. While no two countries can agree 100% per cent of the time, Canada has been staunch and loyal as a neighbor to the US.
Today, the unthinkable happened: Canada was attacked by what may have been terrorists http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/americas/canada-ottawa-shooting/index.html?hpt=wo_c1, and one soldier, Cpl Nathan Cirillo was killed as he stood guard at the Canadian War Memorial. It will be of little consolation to his family for them to know that he died a hero in service to his country.
The other hero is Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers, who shot a gunman in the Canadian Parliament building on Parliament Hill. His actions saved the lives of many, and his heroism should be acknowledged.
My thoughts and prayers go to the Cirillo family, and to all Canadians. Although I live in Texas, a couple thousand miles from New York City or Boston, I can tell you that having my country attacked, in 2001 or 2013, sure ripped into my psyche, and made me feel very vulnerable. It also made me want to have a solidarity with those parts of the United States that were immediately effected. My desire to express solidarity for the citizens of Canada is no less sincere tonight.
Today, the unthinkable happened: Canada was attacked by what may have been terrorists http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/americas/canada-ottawa-shooting/index.html?hpt=wo_c1, and one soldier, Cpl Nathan Cirillo was killed as he stood guard at the Canadian War Memorial. It will be of little consolation to his family for them to know that he died a hero in service to his country.
The other hero is Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers, who shot a gunman in the Canadian Parliament building on Parliament Hill. His actions saved the lives of many, and his heroism should be acknowledged.
My thoughts and prayers go to the Cirillo family, and to all Canadians. Although I live in Texas, a couple thousand miles from New York City or Boston, I can tell you that having my country attacked, in 2001 or 2013, sure ripped into my psyche, and made me feel very vulnerable. It also made me want to have a solidarity with those parts of the United States that were immediately effected. My desire to express solidarity for the citizens of Canada is no less sincere tonight.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Ketchup vs. Hot Sauce
Okay, so when I was growing up, I did not like spicy food. I thought Italian food was too spicy, so I did not like it. But, I did like ketchup: I liked ketchup on hamburgers and hot dogs, French fries, fried clams (I also liked tartar sauce on fried clams), home-fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, meatloaf, and golumpkis. I suspect there were other foods that I also liked to cover with ketchup.
So, then I moved to West Texas, and I was introduced to hot sauce, picante or salsa, depending upon who you talk to. I am not sure what the difference is. But I think there is a difference. Hot sauce seems to refer to concentrated sauce such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_sauce, as in Habeñero Sauce, Tabasco Sauce www.tabasco.com or Louisiana Hot Sauce http://www.louisianapepper.com/.
Picante sauce seems to refer to commercially prepared hot sauces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_(sauce) . These sauces are also called salsa.
I also make my own hot sauce, salsa, or picante, depending upon your definition, using tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, lemon or lime juice and salt.
When I moved to Texas, I discovered that there were foods that I preferred to eat covered with hot sauce, salsa or picante vs. ketchup. Specifically, but not limited to omelets and other egg foods, cheese foods, and meat foods.
I still prefer ketchup for French fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, and onion rings.
So, the distinction between ketchup and hot sauce or salsa or picante for me is made.
Most of the time. Every once in a while, I will find myself preferring ketchup over hot sauce, because I crave the sweetness of ketchup.
So, then I moved to West Texas, and I was introduced to hot sauce, picante or salsa, depending upon who you talk to. I am not sure what the difference is. But I think there is a difference. Hot sauce seems to refer to concentrated sauce such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_sauce, as in Habeñero Sauce, Tabasco Sauce www.tabasco.com or Louisiana Hot Sauce http://www.louisianapepper.com/.
Picante sauce seems to refer to commercially prepared hot sauces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_(sauce) . These sauces are also called salsa.
I also make my own hot sauce, salsa, or picante, depending upon your definition, using tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, lemon or lime juice and salt.
When I moved to Texas, I discovered that there were foods that I preferred to eat covered with hot sauce, salsa or picante vs. ketchup. Specifically, but not limited to omelets and other egg foods, cheese foods, and meat foods.
I still prefer ketchup for French fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, and onion rings.
So, the distinction between ketchup and hot sauce or salsa or picante for me is made.
Most of the time. Every once in a while, I will find myself preferring ketchup over hot sauce, because I crave the sweetness of ketchup.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Tex Mex and Spicy Food
Fast forward to 1977, when I moved to Texas. I was introduced to Tex-Mex food. I liked the blending of spices and flavors. I did not know it at the time, but the blending of spices and flavors I liked included cheese, jalapeño, chili, cumin, cilantro, garlic and onion. I found that the spices, cheese and corn moderated the flavors, so the spice was not so harsh. Cold beer and ice cream also helped to ameliorate the spicy heat of the food.
Garlic to me is addictive, and I have read that Capsaicin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin is also addictive. I believe it. When I travel to parts of the world where Tex-Mex, New Mexico style, or Mexican food is not common, I find myself not just craving the pepper heat, but devising ways to acquire it.
So, yes, I am addicted to hot, spicy food.
Garlic to me is addictive, and I have read that Capsaicin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin is also addictive. I believe it. When I travel to parts of the world where Tex-Mex, New Mexico style, or Mexican food is not common, I find myself not just craving the pepper heat, but devising ways to acquire it.
So, yes, I am addicted to hot, spicy food.
Spicy Food
So, when I was young, I did not like spicy food. We would go out as a family for Italian food, and I did not want spaghetti and meatballs. I just wanted spaghetti and butter. What a shame. I am sure that when we went to Tommy's Spaghetti House, when I was a child, it was excellent Italian food. But I thought it was too spicy.
I persisted in thinking Italian food was too spicy until I was in high school, and I was introduced to pizza. Then, Italian food was not too bad.
Fast forward to college, and I could deal with Italian food. In fact, I decided it was very good.
I persisted in thinking Italian food was too spicy until I was in high school, and I was introduced to pizza. Then, Italian food was not too bad.
Fast forward to college, and I could deal with Italian food. In fact, I decided it was very good.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Doing The Right Thing
Over and over and over in my life, when I have had to make a decision, and I have decided to do the right thing, I have been affirmed that you cannot go wrong by doing the right thing.
It happened again this week. I am on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock http://cclubbock.org/. Our executive director was at the Catholic Charities USA http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/ conference last week.
This week, on Tuesday, she extended an invitation to the board members to attend the Lubbock United Way http://www.unitedway-lubbock.org/ mid-session reporting luncheon, today, Thursday. It was a late invitation: she had been out of town, and was only getting caught up. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock is a United Way partner agency. Our board members try to be supportive, but sometimes, a last minute invitation like this does not allow for calendar adjustments.
As it was a bit of a late invitation, it is understandable that most of the board members who replied mostly sent their regrets. I am in a situation in which I can sometimes be flexible about such activities, so I told my supervisor I wanted to attend. And, I did attend. I am so glad I did. Only one other board member attended. Although the executive director could have handled it, it would have been embarrassing to me that the agency had no support or representation except our executive director at this luncheon..
So, I am glad that the other board member and I did the right thing.
It happened again this week. I am on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock http://cclubbock.org/. Our executive director was at the Catholic Charities USA http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/ conference last week.
This week, on Tuesday, she extended an invitation to the board members to attend the Lubbock United Way http://www.unitedway-lubbock.org/ mid-session reporting luncheon, today, Thursday. It was a late invitation: she had been out of town, and was only getting caught up. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock is a United Way partner agency. Our board members try to be supportive, but sometimes, a last minute invitation like this does not allow for calendar adjustments.
As it was a bit of a late invitation, it is understandable that most of the board members who replied mostly sent their regrets. I am in a situation in which I can sometimes be flexible about such activities, so I told my supervisor I wanted to attend. And, I did attend. I am so glad I did. Only one other board member attended. Although the executive director could have handled it, it would have been embarrassing to me that the agency had no support or representation except our executive director at this luncheon..
So, I am glad that the other board member and I did the right thing.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Dry Skin
I have had dry skin problems for years. In the fall, winter, and early spring months, my skin dries out. The skin on my hands cracks, not just around the nails, but on the back of the hand.
The skin on my shins becomes like alligator skin. When I lived in the country and did a lot of work outside as well as in, the problem was exacerbated. I started using Curél products. While it is a little more expensive than other creams and lotions, the results were amazingly quick, and very good. Curél is not greasy, either.
Lately the dry skin problem has not been so bad, so I now use other products, including the travel size complimentary products from hotels. I still purchase Curél Foot Therapy, and use it on other parts of my body if the skin is severely cracked, as well as using it on my feet. My feet have been drying out a lot lately.
I also use Aquaphor, http://www.eucerinus.com/products/aquaphor/aquaphor-healing-ointment.html. My provider turned me onto this last fall, when I was experiencing serious cracking and splitting problem on the backs of my hands.
Well it is the middle of October. And today, I noticed that the skin on the backs of my hands is dry and tough feeling, and looks close to splitting in places. So, it is hand lotion time.
The skin on my shins becomes like alligator skin. When I lived in the country and did a lot of work outside as well as in, the problem was exacerbated. I started using Curél products. While it is a little more expensive than other creams and lotions, the results were amazingly quick, and very good. Curél is not greasy, either.
Lately the dry skin problem has not been so bad, so I now use other products, including the travel size complimentary products from hotels. I still purchase Curél Foot Therapy, and use it on other parts of my body if the skin is severely cracked, as well as using it on my feet. My feet have been drying out a lot lately.
I also use Aquaphor, http://www.eucerinus.com/products/aquaphor/aquaphor-healing-ointment.html. My provider turned me onto this last fall, when I was experiencing serious cracking and splitting problem on the backs of my hands.
Well it is the middle of October. And today, I noticed that the skin on the backs of my hands is dry and tough feeling, and looks close to splitting in places. So, it is hand lotion time.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump!
Taki is a thumper or a "ba-dumper" as she runs through the house. I really enjoy listening to her rhythm as she runs through the house. It is not uncommon to hear the "ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump" as I sit in the computer room, and she comes racing in. Even when she is thumping through the house in the middle of the night, instead of being upset that the noise woke me, I appreciate the passion and rhythm that I hear.
Tonight was no exception. Taki was in the computer room, and disappeared. Then, I heard the herd noise coming: "ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump." Taki raced into the computer room, raced around the tray legs and went right to the trash can. She stopped. And sniffed. Some nights, she empties the trash can, especially when it is more empty than full, and she can pull out the liner that makes a crinkly noise. There was too much trash in the can tonight. But she sure did check it out, anyway.
Tonight was no exception. Taki was in the computer room, and disappeared. Then, I heard the herd noise coming: "ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump." Taki raced into the computer room, raced around the tray legs and went right to the trash can. She stopped. And sniffed. Some nights, she empties the trash can, especially when it is more empty than full, and she can pull out the liner that makes a crinkly noise. There was too much trash in the can tonight. But she sure did check it out, anyway.
Monday, October 13, 2014
I Want Something
Taki and Haiku like to sit in the computer room with me. Usually Haiku sits on the tray or the folding chair. Taki usually sits on the floor. Actually, lays on the floor, spread out behind and a little to the right of my chair, so when I swivel around to get up, I have to be careful not to step on her.
Often, Haiku will cry when she wants something: typically treats in the kitchen, or to go to sit in the garage. Sometimes, she wants to be held, or to move to sit on the sofa. She can sit on me or closer to me on the sofa. She does not like to sit on me when I am sitting up at the computer chair. If we are on the sofa, I am reclined, and she can stretch out on me.
Taki sometimes grabs at me. Because she is being a pest and picking at me with her claws, and not talking, it took me a long time to realize that when she grabs at me, she, too wants something. She grabbed at me tonight. The cats had been fed, so I could not figure out what she wanted. I brought in some grass and that satisfied her. I am learning her language.
Often, Haiku will cry when she wants something: typically treats in the kitchen, or to go to sit in the garage. Sometimes, she wants to be held, or to move to sit on the sofa. She can sit on me or closer to me on the sofa. She does not like to sit on me when I am sitting up at the computer chair. If we are on the sofa, I am reclined, and she can stretch out on me.
Taki sometimes grabs at me. Because she is being a pest and picking at me with her claws, and not talking, it took me a long time to realize that when she grabs at me, she, too wants something. She grabbed at me tonight. The cats had been fed, so I could not figure out what she wanted. I brought in some grass and that satisfied her. I am learning her language.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Laundry and Haiku
I brought the laundry in from the dryer earlier this evening, around 6:30 or so. Haiku almost immediately climbed into the basket and dozed on the warm clothes. Here it is after 11 PM, and she has not budged. I brought in a second basket of laundry, and made the bed, and put the other clothes away. But the clothes in the first basket are still there. I would like to put the clothes away. But Haiku has seen fit to take up residence on the clothes, so she is being allowed to enjoy her pleasure. I can always put clothes away.
Insomnia and Reading
I spent most of my early years not sleeping well. As an adult, I did not sleep well. I could count on getting 5.5 hours of sleep, but if I went to be early, I was awake after 5.5 hours. And unable to go back to sleep. I did not start sleeping well until 1995. For whatever reason, I started sleeping well, and that continued for about 10 years. After that, my sleep was variable, but not bad. This included an occasional sleepless night, but generally, not bad.
Until recently. I have had some persistent insomnia. I am not sure why. But it is interesting to me that during all those years of poor sleep, the nights I sat up and did pleasure reading did not tire me. I would wake up fresh, although my sleep was limited. The nights I tossed and turned found me dragging the next morning.
Recently, I have had persistent insomnia. Some of the nights of insomnia, I have read well into the night, and found myself not dragging in the morning. But, by mid-afternoon, I have been dragging.
I am not sure what this most recent bout of insomnia is all about. I will continue to read when I can, as it helps me to relax if not sleep.
Until recently. I have had some persistent insomnia. I am not sure why. But it is interesting to me that during all those years of poor sleep, the nights I sat up and did pleasure reading did not tire me. I would wake up fresh, although my sleep was limited. The nights I tossed and turned found me dragging the next morning.
Recently, I have had persistent insomnia. Some of the nights of insomnia, I have read well into the night, and found myself not dragging in the morning. But, by mid-afternoon, I have been dragging.
I am not sure what this most recent bout of insomnia is all about. I will continue to read when I can, as it helps me to relax if not sleep.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Olfactory Hallucinations and Gastrointestinal Illness
A week ago Thursday, I could have sworn I smelled burning rubber in my office. A coworker agreed she could smell something, too. But we could never identify the source.
The next day, I could have sworn I smelled microwave popcorn in my office. Once again, I could not identify the source.
I did not sleep well that Thursday night, and Friday night, it was about 4:30 AM before I could go to sleep. I woke up okay Saturday morning, but after a couple of hours, it was evident to me that I had a gastrointestinal bug of some sort. I spent the day reading and sleeping. It took me forever to feed the cats, and clean cat pans. I could not stay up for very long. I did watch a movie. But mostly, I just sat on the recliner and read or slept. I had ginger ale and saltines.
Sunday I thought I was better. My food intake was limited to chicken soup, ginger ale and saltines, but I went to the store, gassed the car, did some minimal house work and even went to the library and took stuff to the recycling center. I was very tired and had little appetite, but otherwise I thought I was okay. I purposefully did not go to the pool to exercise, though.
I went to work Monday, and by Monday afternoon, I was hurting, still having problems including cramping and gas, and I was exhausted. When I got home, I slept before I fed the cats. This is so unusual. I always take care of the cats first thing when I get home from work. And I almost never take a nap during the day.
By Tuesday afternoon, I was feeling better, and the cramping was gone for the most part. But I was still exhausted, even though I was sleeping well at night. I did exercise that night.
Wednesday, I did go to the pool to exercise. I had very little appetite.
By Thursday, my appetite returned. I had dinner with the mystery book club at the Olive Garden. And enjoyed the discussion at Barnes and Noble.
I was still exhausted Friday, and could not wake up. After lunch, I was again exhausted. And could not get comfortable. And I was smelling things that were not there. But, I felt well enough to go to the pool to exercise, and here it is again, late. I have not been able to get comfortable physically or mentally.
I remember, years ago, a nurse telling me that when people are first becoming ill, their olfactory senses are more acute. She told me that because I had told her that I had smelled things that made me nauseous, but I was not actually ill with fever until the next day. I have noticed that to be true for me throughout my life. It might be the power of suggestion from her comments some 40 years ago. I don't know.
I also know that if I am not sleeping well, it can be a sign of impending illness. The problem is, I have been having sleeping problems for several weeks, so that did not help me this time.
I am sorry about the timeline of my illness. I mostly used it to demonstrate the point that this was not a 24 hour bug and done. The weird thing is that the coworker who smelled the burning odor in my office also became ill on Saturday. She stayed home sick on Monday, and shared the same timeline of feeling better but continuing to be exhausted throughout the week.
I do not believe in coincidences. So, I am not sure what was going on. I wonder if when we smelled burning in my office, we inhaled something that made us ill. The problem with this theory is that at least one other coworker, who did not smell anything in my office, has been ill with a gastrointestinal bug on the same timeline. Hmm.
The next day, I could have sworn I smelled microwave popcorn in my office. Once again, I could not identify the source.
I did not sleep well that Thursday night, and Friday night, it was about 4:30 AM before I could go to sleep. I woke up okay Saturday morning, but after a couple of hours, it was evident to me that I had a gastrointestinal bug of some sort. I spent the day reading and sleeping. It took me forever to feed the cats, and clean cat pans. I could not stay up for very long. I did watch a movie. But mostly, I just sat on the recliner and read or slept. I had ginger ale and saltines.
Sunday I thought I was better. My food intake was limited to chicken soup, ginger ale and saltines, but I went to the store, gassed the car, did some minimal house work and even went to the library and took stuff to the recycling center. I was very tired and had little appetite, but otherwise I thought I was okay. I purposefully did not go to the pool to exercise, though.
I went to work Monday, and by Monday afternoon, I was hurting, still having problems including cramping and gas, and I was exhausted. When I got home, I slept before I fed the cats. This is so unusual. I always take care of the cats first thing when I get home from work. And I almost never take a nap during the day.
By Tuesday afternoon, I was feeling better, and the cramping was gone for the most part. But I was still exhausted, even though I was sleeping well at night. I did exercise that night.
Wednesday, I did go to the pool to exercise. I had very little appetite.
By Thursday, my appetite returned. I had dinner with the mystery book club at the Olive Garden. And enjoyed the discussion at Barnes and Noble.
I was still exhausted Friday, and could not wake up. After lunch, I was again exhausted. And could not get comfortable. And I was smelling things that were not there. But, I felt well enough to go to the pool to exercise, and here it is again, late. I have not been able to get comfortable physically or mentally.
I remember, years ago, a nurse telling me that when people are first becoming ill, their olfactory senses are more acute. She told me that because I had told her that I had smelled things that made me nauseous, but I was not actually ill with fever until the next day. I have noticed that to be true for me throughout my life. It might be the power of suggestion from her comments some 40 years ago. I don't know.
I also know that if I am not sleeping well, it can be a sign of impending illness. The problem is, I have been having sleeping problems for several weeks, so that did not help me this time.
I am sorry about the timeline of my illness. I mostly used it to demonstrate the point that this was not a 24 hour bug and done. The weird thing is that the coworker who smelled the burning odor in my office also became ill on Saturday. She stayed home sick on Monday, and shared the same timeline of feeling better but continuing to be exhausted throughout the week.
I do not believe in coincidences. So, I am not sure what was going on. I wonder if when we smelled burning in my office, we inhaled something that made us ill. The problem with this theory is that at least one other coworker, who did not smell anything in my office, has been ill with a gastrointestinal bug on the same timeline. Hmm.
My Brain is Stuck
I have been having more and more trouble blogging. Sometimes, I think I have a topic, but I cannot put the words down. When I do, they do not say what exactly I am trying to say. I try to blog once daily, but this has not been happening since August, and I am "getting further and further behind." This is really frustrating for me. I am trying to do at least a very short piece every night. But even that does not happen. Well, this is my short piece for tonight.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Learning the Computer
I have had this computer with Windows 8.1 since July. I am still learning the nuances and the intricacies of using Windows 8.1 and Microsoft 2010. I am regularly frustrated when I try to do things that were intuitively easy to do with my other computer.
So, I am having to learn about these nuances, program changes and other ways of doing things. But I keep trying and learning. I am convinced that I am smarter than my computer, and every time I learn to do something that was easy to do with my other computer, I know that I am smarter than my computer.
So, I am having to learn about these nuances, program changes and other ways of doing things. But I keep trying and learning. I am convinced that I am smarter than my computer, and every time I learn to do something that was easy to do with my other computer, I know that I am smarter than my computer.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Habit
We are creatures of habit. One of my new habits is to do a physical therapy routine several times week at the Lifestyles Center pool. I have mentioned this before. I have had to miss due to electric storms. And, this past weekend, I had to miss due to health reasons.
It felt so strange, Sunday afternoon, not to adjust my Sunday schedule around a trip to the pool!
Today, I worked a full day, and went home and fed the cats. I was so eager to get to the pool, that although I did not rush feeding the cats, that chore was finished quickly and I was able to get to the pool earlier than I sometimes do!
It felt so good to do the exercise routine. Although I was tired today, and sometimes I am tired and hurting, the exercise routine seems to take all of that out of me. When I finished, I am refreshed and not hurting! What a blessing!
It felt so strange, Sunday afternoon, not to adjust my Sunday schedule around a trip to the pool!
Today, I worked a full day, and went home and fed the cats. I was so eager to get to the pool, that although I did not rush feeding the cats, that chore was finished quickly and I was able to get to the pool earlier than I sometimes do!
It felt so good to do the exercise routine. Although I was tired today, and sometimes I am tired and hurting, the exercise routine seems to take all of that out of me. When I finished, I am refreshed and not hurting! What a blessing!
You Might Have to Live in Texas To Believe It
Emergent health care in Texas is not good. It has improved some over the years, but not much. The quality of care provided in our emergencies rooms is adequate if not good or better, but access to care is the problem.
For years, if someone was unable to demonstrate proof of payment and they present in an emergency room needing care, they were often turned away. Or, they were shunted to a different emergency room. Well, there are laws against that, especially for emergent, life threatening situations. But even for questionable situations, people are still turned away.
The front line emergency room staff are trained to be sure that payment is available before they welcome patients wholeheartedly. So, someone who needs hospitalization might be given xrays and prescriptions to take at home, instead of admission.
This may sound barbaric. In many respects it is. But, it is true. Part of the problem are the emergency room users themselves. Many do not have a primary care provider or urgent care clinic they prefer to use, so they use an emergency room for that type of care. Although education and fees have been used to stop this practice, it has not totally ended it.
Much of the problem is the broken health care system in the United States. Insurance companies choose treatment for people, not the health care providers. And there are so many hoops to jump through, no wonder the health care costs are so high. A perfect example is my recent use of insurance for physical therapy. While my health care provider could acknowledge my physical therapy authorizations, they were not done or managed by my health care provider, but by some other contract source. And you know each contract source has its own set of bureaucracy to support and has to justify itself, but really did little if nothing to encourage or support my health care.
I understand private insurance and government programs for health care billing is a night mare. I am sorry that is the case. Instead of insuring people receive timely and efficient care, care is delayed, and billing is so obfuscated that you do not know if your bill is correct or not!
So, who's to blame? I do not know? How do we fix it? I do not know. What I do know is that when insurance companies make health care plans and funding for emergency room treatment is more important than treatment, the American people lose.
For years, if someone was unable to demonstrate proof of payment and they present in an emergency room needing care, they were often turned away. Or, they were shunted to a different emergency room. Well, there are laws against that, especially for emergent, life threatening situations. But even for questionable situations, people are still turned away.
The front line emergency room staff are trained to be sure that payment is available before they welcome patients wholeheartedly. So, someone who needs hospitalization might be given xrays and prescriptions to take at home, instead of admission.
This may sound barbaric. In many respects it is. But, it is true. Part of the problem are the emergency room users themselves. Many do not have a primary care provider or urgent care clinic they prefer to use, so they use an emergency room for that type of care. Although education and fees have been used to stop this practice, it has not totally ended it.
Much of the problem is the broken health care system in the United States. Insurance companies choose treatment for people, not the health care providers. And there are so many hoops to jump through, no wonder the health care costs are so high. A perfect example is my recent use of insurance for physical therapy. While my health care provider could acknowledge my physical therapy authorizations, they were not done or managed by my health care provider, but by some other contract source. And you know each contract source has its own set of bureaucracy to support and has to justify itself, but really did little if nothing to encourage or support my health care.
I understand private insurance and government programs for health care billing is a night mare. I am sorry that is the case. Instead of insuring people receive timely and efficient care, care is delayed, and billing is so obfuscated that you do not know if your bill is correct or not!
So, who's to blame? I do not know? How do we fix it? I do not know. What I do know is that when insurance companies make health care plans and funding for emergency room treatment is more important than treatment, the American people lose.
Monday, October 6, 2014
The World Series
I like baseball http://mlb.mlb.com/home. My favorite teams are the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Neither team is in post season play this year. Sometimes, even if one of my favorite teams is not playing, I have a game on TV. I like the rhythm and patter of baseball announcing. I like the stories of baseball history that the announcers use to fill in the time between plays.
I could care less who wins the series this year, although I tend to go for the underdog or hard luck story, which means the Kansas City Royals. They last were in post-season play in 1985 http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/history/postseason_results.jsp when they won the World Series.
Baseball is "America's Pastime" and I believe it. I just like the background sound sometimes.
I could care less who wins the series this year, although I tend to go for the underdog or hard luck story, which means the Kansas City Royals. They last were in post-season play in 1985 http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/history/postseason_results.jsp when they won the World Series.
Baseball is "America's Pastime" and I believe it. I just like the background sound sometimes.
Changing conventions
I remember when I was on a business trip in Austin, Texas, in the early 1990's. I worked then, as now, for the State of Texas, and we were ensconced in an upscale hotel that gave the state a rate for employees on business. At breakfast, I asked the waitress if I could get a diet Coke instead of a coffee. She was not sure: she had not served diet Coke for breakfast before. I got my diet Coke. The next morning, a couple of other patrons asked for soft drinks for breakfast, too.
Now, it is not unusual in fast food restaurants as well as sit down restaurants to get soft drinks at breakfast. (Truck stops served soft drinks at breakfast for years before this.) So much has changed in our society in the last 20 plus years.
Conventions change. Our society has become so much less formal over the years. This is not bad, except that we have lost some of the politeness and consideration that went with the formality. Good manners do not require formality. They just require consideration of other people. We should not confuse the two.
Now, it is not unusual in fast food restaurants as well as sit down restaurants to get soft drinks at breakfast. (Truck stops served soft drinks at breakfast for years before this.) So much has changed in our society in the last 20 plus years.
Conventions change. Our society has become so much less formal over the years. This is not bad, except that we have lost some of the politeness and consideration that went with the formality. Good manners do not require formality. They just require consideration of other people. We should not confuse the two.
Goodreads
I like using Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/ because it helps me to keep track of what books I have read. I like mysteries, and I like to read mysteries that are series, and I like to read mysteries series in order. I use Fantastic Fiction http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ to help me to keep track of books in series in order of what they are written so I can read them in order. I also use Fantastic Fiction to help me to keep track of which of my favorite authors have new books in their series
But, Goodreads helps me to remember what I have read. I am not interested in writing reviews. I do rate books. But, sometimes, when I am reading a lot of books in a row from a series, I lose track. So Goodreads helps.
But, Goodreads helps me to remember what I have read. I am not interested in writing reviews. I do rate books. But, sometimes, when I am reading a lot of books in a row from a series, I lose track. So Goodreads helps.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Mosquitoes
It was a beautiful day today. I had lots of chores and errands to do, but did get to sit in my back yard for a while this afternoon. Before I moved into the yard, I lit a citronella candle, but shortly before dusk, the mosquitoes got really bad. I had my Off Clip On http://www.off.com/en-US/Products/Pages/off-clip-on.aspx but the mosquitoes did not seem to care. I just had to move inside.
I was thankful for the time I had outside.
I was thankful for the time I had outside.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Pill Packs
So, I take prescribed medication, morning and night. When I first started taking these medications, they came in plastic pill packs that contain blister cards of medication. The cards were sometimes a little difficult to pull out of the plastic case, but not too bad.
Now, the blister cards some in cardboard sleeves. The cards are tough to pull out, and after several weeks, the cardboard cards get soft, and bent and become difficult to pull out. So, quite unsafely, I pull the cards out and leave them on top of the sleeve. I know this is not safe. There is nothing identifying on the card, that I can see. So, if I get them mixed up, I would have to be able to identify the pills some how. I do not have small children who can get into the medication, but if the cats decided to play with the cards, there could be a problem.
I am not sure why pharmaceutical companies do pill packs like this instead of pill bottles. It is not more convenient for me, and in fact is less convenient. I suspect there is an economic reason for this.
Interestingly, I discovered a pill identifier on line http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?drugname=pack. I tried it for one of my pills, and it worked! This is really good to know!
Now, the blister cards some in cardboard sleeves. The cards are tough to pull out, and after several weeks, the cardboard cards get soft, and bent and become difficult to pull out. So, quite unsafely, I pull the cards out and leave them on top of the sleeve. I know this is not safe. There is nothing identifying on the card, that I can see. So, if I get them mixed up, I would have to be able to identify the pills some how. I do not have small children who can get into the medication, but if the cats decided to play with the cards, there could be a problem.
I am not sure why pharmaceutical companies do pill packs like this instead of pill bottles. It is not more convenient for me, and in fact is less convenient. I suspect there is an economic reason for this.
Interestingly, I discovered a pill identifier on line http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?drugname=pack. I tried it for one of my pills, and it worked! This is really good to know!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
It Was a Productive Day
Work was a little slow today, but I got to see all of the patients I needed to see, and completed the appropriate documentation.
I went to a lunch time educational meeting and learned A LOT! So much practical stuff that I can use with my patients. Sometimes, this is difficult because we are limited in the prison setting. And, although a lot of the information was geared towards junior high school or high school students, I could see how I could adapt it with my patients.
And, I had some patient interviews in the afternoon, and already started using the information! For a one hour in-service, this is amazing!
So, it really was a productive day at work, once again! After the workshop, I went back to work so charged with my knew perspectives about dealing with the every day situations we deal with, it was exciting! And, I got to share this with a couple of colleagues!
I went to a lunch time educational meeting and learned A LOT! So much practical stuff that I can use with my patients. Sometimes, this is difficult because we are limited in the prison setting. And, although a lot of the information was geared towards junior high school or high school students, I could see how I could adapt it with my patients.
And, I had some patient interviews in the afternoon, and already started using the information! For a one hour in-service, this is amazing!
So, it really was a productive day at work, once again! After the workshop, I went back to work so charged with my knew perspectives about dealing with the every day situations we deal with, it was exciting! And, I got to share this with a couple of colleagues!
It Has Been A Long Day
Well, so many of my days are long days. But by about 7 PM or so, I retreat to playing on the computer, watching TV, listening to music, reading, or some combination of these things.
Not so today. I slept a little late, mostly a function of my not hearing the alarm. I think this is a function of my diminished hearing, and the diminished volume of the alarm. That is okay. I awoke in plenty of time to get to work as scheduled, after tending to the various critters and their whims.
I saw patients with the new doctor at work. She is marvelous: she did not allow for long rambling, whiny stories, but kept her interviews focused on what is happening and what help do you need.
I saw some other patients, and went to a meeting, and of course, did the requisite paperwork.
I got off work at 5 PM. Because of traffic situations, I arrived home a little later then usual, but only a few minutes.
After feeding the cats, I went to the Lifestyle Center to exercise. Today's routine was one of the longer ones, and it took about 70 minutes to complete. By time I arrived home, it was almost 8 PM.
I checked on the status of our NASW workshop for next week; it is still pending. That was okay, because I was not prepared to print and send the snail mail announcements tonight. I do not worry as much about the email announcements. Those can go out within a day or two of the RSVP date.
I had to update the membership roster: this is a little complicated: I delete the expired members, but move their information to a different folder. If they have email, I move their email from the membership group to the general group. I added the new members, and if they have email, I add their email to the membership group email. If not, I have to add them to the mailing envelop roster. This used to be a simple task, before I changed to Microsoft 10 and got a new printer. Now it is very complex and time consuming. But, I completed it tonight. The other challenge in this is that the new printer I have behaves very differently from my old printer, and I am still learning about it.
I needed to do some bill pay, and remember to eat so I could take my PM medications, which I forgot to do last night.
There was nothing on TV that I wanted to watch, until the 10 PM news came on. I did not even want to listen to music. The cats came in and out while I was working, and I did spend some quiet time petting whoever was nearby.
I did my PT, which was brief as I did most of my exercises in the pool tonight.
So, now, it is closing in on midnight.
I have opened the house to get some fresh air: I was seasoning an iron skillet tonight and it got a little smoky in the house. And, the temperature is now in the 60's so it is a good night to get some fresh air into the house. Although I open the windows, they are opened in a lock position, making access to the house difficult, as if the windows were closed.
It is about time for bed. I have another full day tomorrow, although I doubt it will be as productive as today.
Not so today. I slept a little late, mostly a function of my not hearing the alarm. I think this is a function of my diminished hearing, and the diminished volume of the alarm. That is okay. I awoke in plenty of time to get to work as scheduled, after tending to the various critters and their whims.
I saw patients with the new doctor at work. She is marvelous: she did not allow for long rambling, whiny stories, but kept her interviews focused on what is happening and what help do you need.
I saw some other patients, and went to a meeting, and of course, did the requisite paperwork.
I got off work at 5 PM. Because of traffic situations, I arrived home a little later then usual, but only a few minutes.
After feeding the cats, I went to the Lifestyle Center to exercise. Today's routine was one of the longer ones, and it took about 70 minutes to complete. By time I arrived home, it was almost 8 PM.
I checked on the status of our NASW workshop for next week; it is still pending. That was okay, because I was not prepared to print and send the snail mail announcements tonight. I do not worry as much about the email announcements. Those can go out within a day or two of the RSVP date.
I had to update the membership roster: this is a little complicated: I delete the expired members, but move their information to a different folder. If they have email, I move their email from the membership group to the general group. I added the new members, and if they have email, I add their email to the membership group email. If not, I have to add them to the mailing envelop roster. This used to be a simple task, before I changed to Microsoft 10 and got a new printer. Now it is very complex and time consuming. But, I completed it tonight. The other challenge in this is that the new printer I have behaves very differently from my old printer, and I am still learning about it.
I needed to do some bill pay, and remember to eat so I could take my PM medications, which I forgot to do last night.
There was nothing on TV that I wanted to watch, until the 10 PM news came on. I did not even want to listen to music. The cats came in and out while I was working, and I did spend some quiet time petting whoever was nearby.
I did my PT, which was brief as I did most of my exercises in the pool tonight.
So, now, it is closing in on midnight.
I have opened the house to get some fresh air: I was seasoning an iron skillet tonight and it got a little smoky in the house. And, the temperature is now in the 60's so it is a good night to get some fresh air into the house. Although I open the windows, they are opened in a lock position, making access to the house difficult, as if the windows were closed.
It is about time for bed. I have another full day tomorrow, although I doubt it will be as productive as today.
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