Blogging

I have had some days off, and normally, when I do, I am able to be creative about blogging, but this time, my days off were filled with non-work chores that took work from my brain as well as my physical presence. 

Nothing bad, but some time consuming tasks.  And busy.  So, today, I have minimized: some laundry, a trip to the library, a trip to the Lifestyle Center, and cat care. Light reading. TV.  And a quick blog.

How Do I Find Time To Work?

I took a week off to do errands and chores that just do not seem to get done after work.  And, I have had a busy week.  I have done very little reading, which was something I wanted to do, also.  I have just been busy doing paperwork for NASW, typing minutes, meeting with people, and just getting things done.  I did have some plumbing work done, I did some yard work, I picked up medical records, and I got a new cell phone (same number.)  It is amazing to me how much time the acts of living really  take.  How do I get it all done when I am working?  Well, that is why I took the week off.

How Was Your Day?

My niece is posting these comments about "this is what I did today, how was your day?"  Some of her comments are almost trivial, although they do make a statement. Today, I responded as follows:

A was instrumental in resolving a conflict in management procedures for patients housed on one of my pods at work. When I went to work this morning, I really did not have any tasks to do today, but as this situation evolved, I knew that was why I went to work today! Being a social worker is like that. 

I did not include that, as it happened the mothers of two of those clients called to check on them today.  It was nice to be able to assure their mothers that they were being treated in the most humane and appropriate way we could in a prison!

And, I did not add, that this week, I met with a patient who has been struggling with values of self-worth. He is not the only patient I saw this week who heard my comments about "you have value because you are you, because you exist.  That it does not matter what you do, what your crime is, what your sentence is or what your relationships are.  You have value because you are you. You have value to me, because you are a human being.  My job is to help you to continue to be so you can grow your value for you." 

Another patient I saw this week repeated back to me that he understood what I said about feeling good about giving 100%. That 100% varies from day to day, some days is lower and some days is higher, but on any given day, you give 100%. And you can appreciate yourself for always giving 100%.  This patient said he did not believe the coping skills I suggested would help him, but he did them anyway, and he was surprised by the help he received!

And, I met with a patient who was eager for help, and ready to try anything!  He said he tried the suggestion we gave him to improve his sleep, and it did!  He studied the stress management, relaxation and anger management materials he was given, and he realized that he did not have to solve his problems with verbal arguments and physical fights.

Okay, so a couple of weeks ago, I basically chastised several patients who really do not need hospitalization, have done nothing to help themselves, and are taking up beds needed by sicker patients.  I told them that my vote for treatment team was discharge. 

Since then, I have seen an increase in requests to review the self-help therapy materials we distribute. And an increase in these kind of positive comments.

And, before I did the chastising, one of the patients in that category told me he was working on the materials (on my dare) and was surprised that it helped!

So, these patients might be "blowing smoke" at me, and not really buying into the self help program we provide.  But even if they are "faking it till they make it" they are getting something out of the program. 

This is why I do what I do.  Many of my colleagues who have been at the facility where I have worked almost 20 years, many who have been there less, talk regularly about the fact that they cannot wait to be eligible for retirement. Many admit to being burned out. Some often ask me how I keep fresh after almost 20 years, and I tell them it is my commitment to do 100% at whatever level that  is, and the satisfaction that gives me that keeps me going. And, I acknowledge that I have my highs and lows, and need breaks and need to be revitalized.  But I take revitalization in the small things.  

I admit that there are other things, than work, that I want to do in life, but that is what annual leave is for.  When I get this kind of feedback from my patients, and even my colleagues that I was instrumental in helping them, I know I am doing what I need to do to be helping mankind, one person at a time.



 

Learning About Developmental Disabilites and Head Injuries

Today, I did training for future correctional officers and talked about dealing with people with developmental disabilities and head injuries, and the implications for how the correctional officers related to them. A colleague sat in the session, and she said she could see some light bulbs going on and some wheels turning about what this meant for them. Which is what my goal is. If I reach one correctional officer, I have done what I needed to do.  I think my day was successful.  I have to admit, the class was very engaged, attentive, and seemed to be eager to learn (which is  not always the case.)

I appreciate the input from my colleague.  I felt like I was connecting because the correctional officers asked some very good questions.  And some were not so interested. 

I also speak about the role of the social worker at my unit.  And I make it about how the officers can helps us, interface with us, and understand what we are doing.  My supervisor previously sat in on this presentation, and she told me how much that added to the presentation, and was an aspect of training that she would not have considered, given the topic.

Doing two hours of training when I am not used to it drains me.  But when the class seems to get something out of it, I know I have not wasted my time.

Cooling Off

We have had some interesting weather patterns lately, including flooding rains, large hail, wind, cool nights and warm days.  Today, as it has recently, the house has warmed to the high 70s.  But already, tonight, the air is outside is at the low 70s.

This is good. I have the air conditioner on, and about 10 PM, it comes on  for the first time of the day.  And about 10:30 PM, the night air is cool enough to open the windows.  Depending how cold it gets overnight, the house cools off to the mid 70s or even the high 60s by morning.

This is good. Because the days are not that hot, I am not running the air conditioner all day, even though I leave it on in case things get super-heated while I am at work.

Bed Linens

A few years ago, I purchased bed sheets and pillow cases from Bed, Bath and Beyond http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/ for my queen size bed. Even with a 20% off coupon, I paid close to $100.  I was not very pleased with the endurance of this merchandise.   A couple of years into the purchase, the elastic on one of the corners on the fitted sheet broke.  I made do.  It did not impair the functioning of the sheets.

A few nights ago, the flat sheet ripped near the seam at the top.  What the!

So, this time I purchased linens at Wal-Mart http://www.walmart.com. I normally buy the low priced option, but I decided to splurge this time, and go for the 400 thread count option.  These sheets and pillow cases are 100% Egyptian cotton but they feel like satin. It is amazing to me.

It will be interesting to me to see how long these linens endure. 

Paperwork

Tonight, I was working on the paperwork for the South Plains Branch of the National Association of Social Workers Texas  continuing education luncheon series http://www.naswtx.org/default.asp?.  It is cumbersome and complex: reconciling sign in sheets and attendance verification forms.  I also review the evaluations and forward those on to the chair person so she can forward that information to the speaker.  And, I send the information about the people who paid for CEUs at the meeting to the person who submits that information and the money to the state office.

Well, to make matters more complex, Haiku thought she needed attention while I was doing this. She kept sitting on the forms, and crying for attention.  I held her, and that seemed to console her, but after she jumped off my lap, she would end up on the paperwork again.

I am reminded of Mack, my beloved dachshund terrier mix.  I would bring paperwork home to work on. After work, we usually went for a walk either in the neighborhood or at a local park . When we got home, sometimes Mack liked to be outside.  And if the weather was nice, I would join him.  But I often brought documentation to do at home.  He would let me work on the documentation for about an hour, and then he would become insistent on sitting on the paperwork. He was right. I did not need to bring that work home.  He convinced me to change from that job. 

I enjoyed that job, but realized, one holiday weekend, that I had become an "adrenaline junkie."  I had spent a long weekend on call, with very little on call activity.  But that Monday night, I received several calls, and my adrenaline kicked in.  I realized then that I needed to get out of that job, because I did not want to live on an adrenaline high. I recall discussing this with one of the doctors who did not want to see me leave the job. She told me she really liked the adrenaline high and it made it all worthwhile for her. I could not imagine.

I am forever grateful I got out of that job, and the adrenaline rush it repeatedly gave me.

My next job allowed me to watch the paint dry and the grass grow.  That was better, and as always, I gave my 100%. But it was not as challenging as it could have been.

Moving on to the prison provided me the right mix of challenge with out emergency. The prison job has paperwork, but nothing that I can bring home. What a blessing. I am so thankful that I have a job that does not allow me to bring paperwork home.  

The Jury Has Decided

Well, the jury has decided in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and they have given him the death penalty http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-death-sentence.html?_r=0.  I have previously said I do not believe in the death penalty, and I still do not believe in the death penalty. 

In a way, I do not blame the jurors.  They were given the opportunity, in the selection process, to let it be known if they were prepared to find for the death penalty.  They made their choice then, to be on the jury.  And from what I have heard of the way the law is written, they were compelled to follow the letter of the law which lead to this decision. That is what jurors are supposed to do. 

I have heard the reactions of some of the victims and survivors who say now they can move forward with their lives.  I am thankful for them that that will be possible.  I wonder if it will. The reality is that there will be years of appeals, and I suspect that will continue to be a burden on the victims and survivors.  And, I cannot imagine the haunt to my psyche that I knowingly wanted someone killed would provide.  It is something beyond me to imagine.

I suspect, in a way, that Tsarnaev went into his mission thinking that there was a possibility that he might die, so maybe the result is not much of a surprise to him.  I am still concerned that this will make him a martyr to the terrorist movement.  And, if it becomes known someone can come to the United States and become a martyr, does this make us more of a target?

Mostly, I am just sad that this country still allows the death penalty, which I still think, no matter what kind of due process is used, is cruel and inhumane.

Barn Swallows, The Nest

The barn swallow nest is looking more and more complete.  I am concerned because the mud does not look dried, which makes if more fragile, especially  if we have a major wind or rain event, which the National Weather Service says my occur tomorrow http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/ . My hope is the early morning weather may help the nest to dry and solidify before the storms blow in. 

I have seen the birds, and they do not look as distressed as they did the first time I saw them, after the nest was damaged.  I hope that is good news. 

Sensitivity

I want something to eat.  That was the title of a post I made on May 8, 2015.  As I went back and looked at it, I realized how insensitive that was.  It was about a cat, a beloved pet to be sure, but a very spoiled, sick cat who is very sure she can ask for choices in food until she gets what she wants.  She does not go hungry, unless I cannot figure out her choices.  Or unless the infection in her mouth becomes bad enough that she no longer eats, and we have to go to the veterinarian to get another injection, and then she starts eating again.

Today, as I was hearing about the devastation in Nepal from the earthquakes, aftershocks, and aftermath http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/13/asia/nepal-second-earthquake-ripley/index.html, I realized that my post about Sake and her eating problems was very insensitive.  There are people in Nepal who do not have food, who do not know where their next meal will come from, and do not have a safe place to stay for the night or the next day.

I cannot imagine this fragility in lifestyle.  It is beyond me.  I have made a donation to the Breedlove Dehydration Plant http://www.breedlove.org/ in support of their efforts to provide food for people in Nepal.

I hope you do something to help the people in Nepal, too.

Barn Swallows...Update

When I got home today, I checked the barn swallow nest.  There was fresh mud.  It was not a full half cup of a nest that I know would be most appropriate, but there was fresh mud.  And, if Mama has to lay eggs, it would probably hold them.  But, it needs to have higher walls or else eggs or babies would fall out.

I just checked, and the pair of barn swallows are perched on the conduit. They do not look as distressed as they did last night.  Again, it will not be really cold tonight, so I will not leave the porch light on. 

I hope this little family will be safe and grow happily.

Barn Swallows

This makes me sick, and I do not know what to do. 

I do not use my front porch a lot.  When Mack was alive, he and I used to sit on the front porch a lot. I would roll the TV on its cart so I could watch it, through the storm door, and read or knit. Mack enjoyed sitting in his front yard. The only time he was inappropriate with passersby was when the mailman came through. Or he was threatened by a passing dog. One mailman understood Mack.  One time, a mailman maced Mack, which made him angrier than he already was at the mailman. But mostly, he was okay with the passing traffic, even if it included dogs, as long as they were on a leash.

It is harder for me to sit on the porch with the cats. I used to bring the cat pen out to the front yard, but Sake and Haiku cried plaintively in the pen. So, that stopped. Haiku really does not care to be in the pen, and Sake likes it for an hour or so at a time. 

If I want to just read or enjoy the air, I can use the porch. But I cannot roll the TV around and watch it. If I open the windows so I can hear the TV, the cats pick at the screen on the storm door or the window opening onto the porch. But if I want to hear what is happening on the TV, I need a conduit. I cannot watch TV successfully from the porch any more.

So, I do not use the front porch a lot.  Once in a while I will sit out on the front porch. And, I will use the front porch furniture to rest in when I am doing yard work in the front yard.

Several years ago, I was using my front porch after dark, enjoying the night air, and some young men walking down the street told me they could see me if I could not see them. I took that as a warning about my safety, which is another reason I do not use the front porch like I used to.

Well, last night, late, with the windows open, as I was flossing, I heard a bird commotion on the front porch. I did not know what it was. I assumed it was birds fluttering in to eat the Nandina berries that are left from last year.

Today, I noticed a pile of bird droppings and another pile of mud and other stuff on the porch floor.

So, I went out on the porch this evening, actually to put out some mussel shells around the Nandina growing next to the porch. I looked at the mud droppings, and above, I saw a partially destroyed barn swallow nest.  There was a barn swallow pair sitting on the electric conduit from the porch light to the motion detector light for the yard.  I did not see egg shell pieces in the mud.

I do not know what happened last night, but can imagine one of the wild cats of the neighborhood used my porch furniture as a launching pad to jump up and try to destroy the nest the barn swallow pair was building, and to try to catch a bird.  Too late, tonight, I upended the furniture so there was no easy launching pad.

The birds looked like they may be in shock. What do I know.  They grasped the conduit and sat there motionless.   I was not sure if I should have the porch light on, to give them warmth, or off. It is not that cold out, and I opted for shutting off the porch light, because it might be too much heat for the birds. 

I may have unwittingly set up this scenario.  I read on line that swallows like egg shells and oyster shells. Well, I put out clam shells and mussel shells around the Nandina, when I eat mussels or stuffed clams. I have not meant to set this up, but it is what it is.

I am in hopes the barn swallows can rebuild their nest. There is a source of mud in the alley not too far away 

I will pay attention to what is happening on my front porch.

The Changes in Household Temperature

Or why I have been able to shut off the air conditioner lately.

The days have been warm.  So warm that by the evening, the inside temperature is at about 78°.  And, at about that same time, the temperature outside is decreasing below that temperature. So, while I turn the air conditioner on during the day, in case the inside temperature soars, by late evening, it is colder outside than inside.

So, I turn off the air conditioner. And open the windows. This slowly cools the inside temperature.  It has the effect of giving me a cool night breeze to help me sleep. And, it cools the house for the next day, so it does not get too warm until the late afternoon. Sometimes, the air conditioner will need to run. Sometimes it will not.

This is one of the blessings of the South Plains:  The hot days but cool, almost cold, nights. Some years, this lasts well into June. Some years, it does not creep into May.  We shall see, this year, how long it lasts.

Blowing Dust? Today?

I emptied my totally full rain gauge the other day, it had 5 inches of rain in it.  Yesterday, it had a half inch of rain in it.  Today, the dust is blowing.  This is not unusual in Texas.  Part of it has to do with how quickly the ground dries, and of course the wind helps it to dry more quickly.

I wonder if part of it has to do with the way the rains come.  We occasionally get a soft, gentle rain.  But this week the rains at times were torrential, causing flash flooding and other damage.  So the water just runs off.  And, since there is no underground drainage to speak of, it runs off and floods.

I have to think there is another reason the water runs off.  The soil around here has a high clay content.  When it is dry, the soil bakes solid and it is difficult for water to penetrate it.  And, when it gets wet, the clay swells up and takes up the water, but gets water-logged quickly.  So the ground is soaked quickly and there is nothing for the water to do but run off.  And the earth dries quickly especially in the hot sun and constant wind, so then the dust blows. 

Welcome to West Texas.

I Pull Them

I may have written about this before, but today is a new day.  Years ago, I had a neighbor who worried over his yard, and used Roundup http://www.roundup.com/smg/gosite/RUP/home and other chemicals to get rid of the weeds.  He saw me working in the yard one day, and said basically "I don't get it. I use all these chemicals, and my weeds keep coming back.  You don't have weeds."  Well, my yard does have weeds. But, I told him "I pull 'em"  He repeated it back to me, almost as if he did not understand what I was saying.

Well "I pull 'em." is not exactly accurate. I do pull weeds in my yard.  I generally put out a weed and feed in my front yard sometime during the spring, and I did that just this week. Some years, I put out a pre-emergent in the fall, but I have not done that recently.

I can tell the weeds in my front yard are not as healthy as they were.  But I am not sure the application will totally kill them.  Earlier this spring, I spent a long afternoon pulling weeds in the main part of my front yard, and for the most part, the weeds have stayed away.  Because of my health limitations, I am not sure I will be able to get back in the front yard to pull more weeds.  But keeping them cut short helps to control them.

This week, with the rains, the ground has been moist, and I have spent several hours pulling weeds in my back yard. It is amazing to me how much better the yard looks with the weeds gone.  If I use weed and feed in the back yard, I do not use the walking broadcast spreader. I use a hand held broadcast spreader.  I have more control, and I am able to spread the weed and feed without getting into the euonymous, the trees, the vines, the vinca, the iris, and now, the coreopsis that I have planted.

But I have not put out a weed and feed in the back yard. I would rather pull the weeds. 

The problem is water.  We are on water restrictions, and are allowed to water now twice a week, but last summer, once a week  Only on certain days.  Many people in my neighborhood, myself included, have stopped watering, because the cost has skyrocketed.  So, without watering, the grass goes away, and the weeds come in.  I have buffalo grass in the backyard, in spots, and it has been spreading, but since I did not water at all last summer, by the end of the summer, even that dried up. I think this year, I will try to water enough to encourage the buffalo grass to spread throughout my yard: it has spread every year, as the Bermuda grass dries up.

And, if I can get the buffalo grass to spread more, maybe in the fall, or next spring, I will plug the front yard with buffalo grass, water it in, and let it spread. Maybe. 

Well. anyway, as long as the ground is moist enough to pull the weeds easily, I will keep working on that. I sit on a step, have the Off Clip-On Mosquito Repellant device http://www.off.com/en-US/Products/Pages/off-clip-on.aspx#off-clip-on-mosquito-repellent?cid=SEM_B_off%20clip-on_off-us-spr14&sid=SEM_B_289.kw49457eattached to the step, and move around the yard. Yes, we already have mosquitos.

And, after that, I come in, use the electronic pulser on my hip, and sit on the heating pad for the rest of the night. That and a dose of aspirin helps the throbbing in my leg to abate.

And, I feel good about being physically active, and about how much better my yard looks.  Pulling weeds does it for me!

I Want Something to Eat

Since her last injection, Sake's eating has been variable. She ate very well the evening after she went to the veterinarian. And she ate for a couple of days. Too well. Then she stopped eating. She did not act hungry, she acted uncomfortable. Her tummy was hard. I think she was constipated. And not to be gross, but after a big poop, she started eating again. Some days a lot, some days a little. Some days one thing, some times a little bit of many things.

This morning she ate boiled chicken, smashed liver, and Fancy Feast Chicken Primavera https://www.fancyfeast.com/gourmet-cat-products/elegant-medleys/primavera.  Tonight, she ate some ground boiled chicken but eschewed the liver  and canned food. She came back to the computer room to get me and kept crying and crying. When we went to the kitchen, she sat looking out the back door, and cried and cried. So, I checked the baby food supply and asked her if she wanted some turkey.  She stopped crying, turned away from the door, and waited for the turkey baby food. She ate about a half jar of baby food turkey.

This is really interesting.  When I lived with Badger, we smoked turkeys a lot, and she loved turkey. Since I have moved back to town, she has not wanted to eat turkey. Not turkey cat food, not turkey that I have cooked.  Who knows.  I am glad she ate well tonight. That makes me feel better.

Coming Home After the Storm

I actually had my hours in before the storm blew through this afternoon, and considered going home, but I did not accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish.  I say I am more task oriented.  I am charged to be at the prison 40 hours a week.  I do that, or take leave.  But, I often stay longer if I have not completed my to do list  Today was one of those days.

So, my car was in the parking lot, unprotected when the storm blew through. There was nothing I could do about it.  The hail damage was minor.

When I got home, it was too early to feed the cats for dinner. I chose not to go to the pool. Although the sky cleared, it cleared and clouded. I decided I did not want to risk another sudden storm. And, I knew I wanted to do some yard work. 

When I first got home, Haiku and Taki met me at the door. That is pretty typical.  But, they stayed with me as I wandered through the house, putting up my bag, hanging up my coat.  I sat on the sofa, and both wanted to be right with me. Uncharacteristically, Taki wanted to be on my lap.  Haiku usually wants to be on my lap, but she seemed satisfied to be able to sit near me so I could pet her. Although there was no evidence of hail at the house, I was not surprised. Most of the hail at work had melted by the time I left.  So I suspect that there was hail at my house, and it had already melted, but the noise of it spooked the cats. Sake was no where around. When the weather gets bad, she hides.  She did not come out until she heard me fixing dinner.  But, that tells me she was not happy with the noise of the storm, either.  Well, they are safe.

It Was A Gray May Day

It was a gray May day.  The early weather forecast called for severe weather in our area after midnight tonight.  But that changed. A thick black cloud moved through about mid-afternoon.  The storm moved fast, but dumped lots of rain, and hail up to golf ball size.  A skylight at work was broken.  My vehicle did not suffer any window damage. It did have dents on the hood.  I suspect there are dents on the roof.  The dents on the hood do not feel like the paint was chipped.

I will not do anything about it now. It probably is not worth doing anything.  But, as the season progresses,  if there are more storms I cannot avoid, I may have to make a claim on the collective damage.

Fallen Officer Ceremony

Today at work we had a Fallen Officer Ceremony https://www.odmp.org/agency/3822-texas-department-of-criminal-justice-texas.  This is a simple ceremony recognizing officers who have died in the line of duty since the last year.  This year, two were highlighted: they died in a bus accident transporting offenders from Abilene to El Paso http://www.oaoa.com/news/traffic_transportation/article_ecb9a086-9c05-11e4-8b48-5bab3838995d.html.

Usually, this ceremony starts with Amazing Grace played on bagpipes.  One year, we had real bag pipes.  Often, the rider-less horse with the boots pointing backwards is present. This year, the ceremony was inside due to the weather, so no horse. One year, the ceremony was moved inside at the last minute, so the rider-less horse was out in the rain seen through the windows. There are prayers, a short speech, and the reading of fallen officers names.  This varies.  Sometimes it is historical. Sometimes it is the list that have died in the line of duty for the agency, the state and/or the nation. 

The agency also sets a fallen officer table http://www.ehow.com/how_8721497_prepare-fallen-soldier-table.html in the foyer.

Tradition and ceremony is important to the place I work.  It might be corny, but I respect, admire, and appreciate tradition and ceremony, when it is purposeful and meaningful. This is purposeful and meaningful.  It shows respect for our downed colleagues. It reminds us that correctional work is dangerous, and we need to be careful. It honors those who have gone before us. 

Thank you for that.

Employee Appreciation Week

This was Employee Appreciation Week at the prison where I work.  Monday, we had the opportunity to get free popcorn. I did not bother to go get some, but the popcorn purveyors delivered, and I had a bag in my mailbox! That was a pleasant surprise.

Tuesday and Thursday, the chow hall served a special meal:  pulled pork sandwiches with multiple sides, 3 deserts: cookies, a cobbler, and soft serve ice cream.  Every employee was encouraged to partake one of either day.  

Wednesday was free popcorn, again. I was asked several times if I wanted popcorn.

Today was the fallen officer ceremony.  There was a good turnout of staff, both correctional and clinical.

Also, starting May 6 going through May 12 is National Nurse's Week http://nursingworld.org/NationalNursesWeek. 

It is nice to acknowledge ourselves and our co-workers, and appreciate them for their efforts.  Even if all they are doing is their job, it needs to be done, and the people at my place of employment try to do it well, for the most part.

We Shall Overcome

We Shall Overcome was the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.  I cannot hear even now without becoming misty eyed at what it means.  Well, Guy Carawan, the person credited with teaching it to students in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee http://www.sncc50thanniversary.org/sncc.html, died last week.  NPR had a story about him this week http://www.npr.org/2015/05/06/404739729/guy-carawan-musician-known-for-we-shall-overcome-dies.

That was probably a little known piece of history, but still well worth noting.  And, important to not the passing of Guy Carawan. 

Well This is Embarrassing

I am flabbergasted at how many people of high standing in Texas believe in the conspiracy theories that abound about the United States government.  Most recently, the Texas Governor, Greg Abbot, authorized the Texas State Guard http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/us/conspiracy-theories-over-jade-helm-get-some-traction-in-texas.html?_r=0 to monitor the United States government military training exercises in Bastrop County, to be sure they will not take over the State of Texas.  Come on.  This is military training exercises, not an attempt to take over Texas, although there are some things in Texas that need to be corrected (increased Medicaid coverage, increased WIC benefits, increased SSI benefits, to name a few.) I resent that the governor of Texas (who I did not vote for) is wasting my tax dollars on such an activity, when people in Texas go hungry, have no health care coverage, and are homeless. 

The following links give you more information about the situation.

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/jon-stewart-mocks-lone-star-lunatics-believe-obama-trying-invade-texas-video/

The history for Lubbock includes the comments from Judge Tom Head about the civil unrest that will occur if President Obama was re-elected

http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2012-08-22/county-judge-head-concerned-civil-unrest-if-obama-re-elected#.VUl_SU1THwo

Nothing happened in Lubbock when President Obama was re-elected.

Judge Head said we will have civil unrest, civil disobedience, and maybe even civil war. He predicted the United Nations would send troops into Lubbock  What poppycock!

That was so embarrassing. 

This was in my facebook feed recently and It is great. 

 

 

Andy Borowitz

Obama Signs Executive Order Removing Texas from Nation
WASHINGTON - In an effort to calm Texans’ fears about a rumored Pentagon takeover of their state, Preside...nt Obama today signed an executive order removing Texas from the nation. While the President's order is expected to face a thicket of legal challenges, an instant poll suggested it was wildly popular, garnering the support of eighty-nine percent of the American people. The harshest criticism of the President's action came from those who expressed chagrin that he did not choose Arkansas or Alabama, while others warned of a new immigration crisis, as refugees pour into the United States from Austin. More: http://nyr.kr/1jTdlr4

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I am thankful it is not as simple as that. I do not want to have to immigrate to the United States from the disenfranchised country of Texas. I do not want to lose my civil rights protection that I am afforded from the United States of American government. Selfishly, I do not want to lose my Social Security retirement benefits.

I hope other people wake up and realize the insanity of the conspiracy theorists position. Save me from this insanity!

 

 

After Work

Last night, because of the storm, I did not go to the pool at the Lifestyle Center.  Obviously, with an electric storm, you cannot be in the pool.  So as the day started, I decided I would not go to the pool again, since we were having electric storms.  By mid-afternoon, things had cleared up and I changed my plans.  

I decided to go home, feed the cats, go to the pool, and then run errands.   Until I drove home and saw the clouds building. But I was not sure, until I saw the local weather which showed storms building to the west.

So, I ran my errands and then headed home as the rain was just barely starting.  Not long after I got home, the rains hit; this included some pea and marble sized hail.  Not bad.  But it got everything good and wet.  My rain gauge maxed out at 5 inches.  I am sure we got more.

I probably could have gone to the pool, if they opened it up again. But I was hunkered down at home. I did spend about an hour pulling weeds. I may regret this tomorrow, but I am pleased with the results, and it needed doing. 

Flooding in th Semi Desert?

Every time I hear about flash flood warnings http://www.kcbd.com/story/28975489/extensive-flooding-reported-across-south-plains from the National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/  for Lubbock or the surrounding areas, I am amazed. But, it makes sense on a different level.  http://www.kcbd.com/story/28979787/traffic-alert-road-closures-detours-across-south-plains

This is a semi-arid area of the world, and the city planners have not planned and never do plan even in this modern age, for torrential rains that overwhelm the "drainage" system in Lubbock.  There is not a drainage system in Lubbock.  There are a very few underground "drains." There are some pump/drains in the south central part of the city, that were developed after some catastrophic flooding. I cannot find the reference on line. 

For my money, Lubbock has no drainage system, and no flood prevention program. And, although this seems not to be an issue, I think it is. When it floods in Lubbock it is catastrophic. It may dissipate quickly, but for those affected, it is a major problem: It may be a matter of being stranded on road, or having your house flooded, but it is a problem.  And for main stream Lubbock, this does not seem to be an issue.

It Is Spring Cleaning Time

I am on the board of directors at Catholic Charities, formerly known as Catholic Family Service.  At our last board meeting, it was noted that the donations to the Resale Center are down. 

The Resale Center has a new, larger Thrift Store location at 1505 34th St.  The donation center is still at 2218 34th St.  The Thrift Store is open 9:30 to 5:30 Monday thru Saturday. The Donation Center is open 9:30 to 4 PM Monday thru Saturday.  In the past, the Thrift Store was at the same location as the Donation Center, and donations were taken in the back. Now, it is much easier to bring donations through the front door.

On my own, I am reaching out to people who might be able to donate, or just spread the word.  The Resale Center profits help to support Catholic Charities programs. What many people do not realize is that many donations are “purchased” (at no cost) on “voucher” by clients of the Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance program.  And, many of those people have originally accessed other agency programs, been assessed for needs, and referred to the Resale Center with vouchers. Also, almost every time you hear of a local family with a personal disaster such as a fire, and the Red Cross has assisted with emergency shelter, the Resale Center has assisted with clothing or household items.

The Resale Center can make pickups for large items, although there may be a waiting period.  But call John Vasquez to schedule, at 763-8315.

And go shopping at the Thrift Store.

Thank you for your consideration.

The Red Sox, James Taylor and Music

James Taylor http://www.jamestaylor.com/biography/ is an amazing singer, song writer and performer.  He debuted a song tonight Angels of Fenway http://news.yahoo.com/james-taylor-debuts-song-fenway-fenway-003657561.html at the Red Sox  http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos vs Yankees http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=nyy game on ESPN.  During the seventh inning stretch, he sang  America the Beautiful.  He gave an interview to ESPN during the game.  He is a Red Sox fan.

A Red Sox vs.Yankee game is always exciting, The rivalry is legendary.  The fun added by a celebrity appearance and performance just enhances the level of fun and excitement.

The Air Temperature

Last week, at one point, I had the heater on because of the overnight cold temperatures.  But I have since shut off the heater.  The nights have been cool, and I have opened the windows, which has had the effect to cool off the house.  I have not had to turn the air conditioner on, because the day time temperatures have not been that warm. 

Well, today was very warm, and the house got up to 79°. But, the evening air is cooling off, and we may even get some overnight storms.  So, I have opened up the windows, and am hoping that with the ceiling fans and breeze, the house temperature will cool off.  If not, I will turn on the air conditioner in the morning.

Right now, it is bordering on very but not too warm. 

Learning About the Alphabet and Language

So I am reading Language Visible, Unraveling the Mystery of the Alphabet from A to Z by David Sacks http://www.alphabet-history.com/language_visible__unraveling_the_mystery_of_the_alphabet_from_a_to_z_30329.htm

It was recommended by my niece, but she suggested Letter Perfect, The Marvelous History of the Alphabet from A to Z. Well, evidently, that is the name of the paperback version, and I am reading the hardback version that is in the Lubbock City Library.

Anyway, this book catalogues not just information about the alphabet but also provides information about how different sounds are found in some languages, but not others.  And how spelling in one language connotes one sound, but a different sound, in a different language.

I went to Elizabeth Reyna's Junior Recital.  She sang songs in German, French, Latin and English.  They provided a program, and also a handout that had the vernacular and English translations of the songs she sang.

One of our audience members asked Ms. Reyna's mother about the mix of languages, and it is a requirement, and evidently, the music majors are required to go to language classes for this specific purpose.  As Elizabeth sang, I found myself marveling at the different languages and sounds in those languages, that are depicted by the letters of our alphabet (and the native language alphabets that have a few variations from our alphabet.)  For me, that enriched my experience of appreciation for the recital, in a way I cannot explain, except to say languages vary, and mastering them in speech or song is such an accomplishment.

Elizabeth Reyna's Junior Recital

Elizabeth Reyna is a junior music education major at Texas Tech University, and the daughter of my supervisor.  Today was her junior recital.  Her mother invited us to attend, and I was honored to be able to do so. 

Ms. Reyna has a beautiful singing voice and performed very well.  I do not know how her professor will grade her, but in my book, she did great!

Congratulations, Elizabeth Reyna.

A Very Good Reason Not to Bundle Technological Services

When I got home late Saturday afternoon, the Internet and cable TV services provided by Suddenlink  http://home.suddenlink.net/ were not available. I checked all of my cable connections, and disconnected all of my equipment from power sources and then re-established power to all of my equipment.  A phone call to Suddenlink resulted in my getting a fast busy, so I knew there was a systematic problem.  A later phone call resulted in my getting a recorded message that Suddenlink services for my area were down, and of course the requisite apologies were made. 

Fortunately, I have cell phone service that is not connected to Suddenlink. This is a good reason not to bundle.  If my only phone source was also Suddenlink, I would have no access to the outside world, including for emergency services.

Throughout the evening, I checked on the Internet and TV service, and it continued to be unavailable.  At about 10 PM, I dialed into Suddenlink, and stayed on line 45 minutes before I was able to talk to a live agent.  He acknowledged the problem, and said it was the result of an accident in the area, and Suddenlink had crews working non-stop, even overnight, to remedy the problem. He said the crews could not project a time to fix the problem, and acknowledged that with the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, this was a serious issue in terms of customer satisfaction.

I had plenty of other activities to do that did not require TV or Internet:  I worked on the Catholic Charities board meeting minutes, I read, I reconciled my check book with statements of bills received (although I could not pay the bills on line, as I usually do), I wrote a letter to a local charity about my planned donation.

I have been a Suddenlink customer for years, and while I have had some minor problems with Suddenlink , mostly because my secondary email account gets locked out because of too any returns, I am not dissatisfied with Suddenlink.  I will not abandon them because of this problem, but if their track record in the future diminishes, I might abandon them.

So now it is after midnight, and guess what, the cable and Internet service has been restored! Yeah! Wow! Just like that!

The Call For Non-Violence

I heard this interview on NPR today http://www.npr.org/2015/05/01/403597684/atlantic-staffer-criticizes-calls-for-nonviolence-in-baltimore with Ta-Nehisi Coates about the call for non-violence.  I do not agree with everything he says, but at the end of the interview, he says if we are calling for non-violence, our legislators, senators, and our President should act consistently with a plan of non-violence.  Participating in war or other violent military actions is in opposition to non-violence.   He acknowledges that violence does bring response, but violence is not something that can be advocated. He says the lives of African-Americans in this country are characterized by violence.  I think that is true. 

He talks about the era of mass incarcerations as being a violent era, and I agree with this.  Putting people in the criminal justice system is putting them in a system of violence: they are subject to violence from other offenders, they are subject to violence from the correctional staff, and they are often perpetrators of violence against correctional staff and other offenders. They are not necessarily taught how to correct or rehabilitate their behaviors. People with drug problems do not get the necessary help towards rehabilitation that they need. They may spend 20 years on a "dry drunk" but when they release from prison, they have no self-awareness or new coping skills to deal with their addiction.

And who is the mastermind that decided that locking up fathers who are delinquent in paying child support will solve the non-payment problem.  So, how can someone who is not paying child support pay child support from prison?  The government has the tool of garnishment.  Would we not do better to train unemployed fathers to prepare them for employment and then garnish their wages at a level that allows the fathers a livable wage?  And teach them  parenting skills along the way. And work with the children's mothers to educate them about the role of a father, which is not just financial support.

Our country is very slow on the uptake regarding some of these things.