Thursday, April 28, 2016
Hail, Hail !
This was a severe weather day on the South Plains. Lubbock was spared with just some severe winds, but there were storms to the north and east that included hail like snow http://www.kcbd.com/weather. We have experienced this type of hail in Lubbock before. It is amazing! It makes driving difficult and dangerous. And of course, although very often a deluge of hail involves smaller sized hail, there is always damage. Weather in West Texas
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Watching Sports
I like to watch sports on TV. In order of preference I like baseball http://mlb.mlb.com/home, NASCAR http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html, basketball http://www.nba.com/, and football http://www.nfl.com/. Mostly, I prefer to watch teams that I like, such as Texas Tech http://www.texastech.com sports, Boston sports, the New York Yankees, and NASCAR in general, the Sprint Cup Series more so than the Infinity Series or the Truck races.
What I have figured out is that I have a hard time sitting down and watching TV. Just watching TV. Occasionally, I can do just that. But often, I need to be doing something else: computering, doing word puzzles, knitting, other tasks. So, I generally like the slower sports: baseball and NASCAR. You might think NASCAR is not a slow sport, but there are minutes upon minutes of round and round racing before something happens. Baseball has a rhythm with which I am comfortable.
So, the fast action sports are harder for me to watch. I enjoy them, but I want to be doing something else. Like tonight. The Boston Celtics were playing the Atlanta Haws in the play offs. The game was tied at the end of regulation play. I thought I could watch the second half of the game and knit, but it took the entire second half of the game, and overtime to get two rows of knitting correct. Basketball is too active a game to multi-task while watching.
What I did not mention is ice skating http://www.usfsa.org/. I also like to watch ice skating, but it requires my full attention.
What I have figured out is that I have a hard time sitting down and watching TV. Just watching TV. Occasionally, I can do just that. But often, I need to be doing something else: computering, doing word puzzles, knitting, other tasks. So, I generally like the slower sports: baseball and NASCAR. You might think NASCAR is not a slow sport, but there are minutes upon minutes of round and round racing before something happens. Baseball has a rhythm with which I am comfortable.
So, the fast action sports are harder for me to watch. I enjoy them, but I want to be doing something else. Like tonight. The Boston Celtics were playing the Atlanta Haws in the play offs. The game was tied at the end of regulation play. I thought I could watch the second half of the game and knit, but it took the entire second half of the game, and overtime to get two rows of knitting correct. Basketball is too active a game to multi-task while watching.
What I did not mention is ice skating http://www.usfsa.org/. I also like to watch ice skating, but it requires my full attention.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Cats and what are they doing?
So, I do not know what was going on tonight, but Taki tipped over the basket that I use for trash in the computer room, scratched out the contents, inverted the plastic bag I use for a liner, and spent a couple of hours just playing in the trash. This is not the first time she has done this. In the past, she had done this quite frequently, until I secured the plastic liner bag with clips. But tonight, she went at it with a vengeance.
Haiku has lately taken to wanting to sit on the computer desk with me. Next to the computer, on the printer, on the key board. Well, the latter is not allowed, and the other is tolerated. She sometimes likes to watch the paper move through the printer. I get that: cats like moving objects. Tonight was no exception.
I don't get what was happening tonight with the kitties. Taki seemed to be perfectly content with her play. Haiku seemed to need some reassurance and comforting. Hmmm.
Weather
Well, we are in an active weather pattern with rain, thunderstorms, and in some areas, hail storms. Yesterday and today, there were some very dark clouds that built during the day, but no real rain. Drops. Drizzle. Tonight, we are predicted for possible storms after 10 PM and before 3 AM. About 10 PM, I started seeing lightning to the north, but the worst of the weather has been to the north and east all day, and that seems to be continuing tonight. We may get some light rain in Lubbock, but so far, no serious weather. I just want the rain.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The Second Part of My Rough Day 4.18.16
This was really anxiety producing to me. I know my user ID and password for my bank account, but they did not allow me to access my bank account. The first time I contacted the 24 hour customer service number, the person who helped me did a hard sell on an American Express credit card, when I really wanted to just access my account. She did give me a temporary password, and sent me on my way before I could tell if that would work. Not good.
My second attempt was much more productive: No sales pitch. and the customer service representative did not rush to disconnect until I was sure I could access my account. What a difference in customer service.
And, I was relieved to see that the funds in my accounts were still where they were supposed to be. Yeah! Whew!
My second attempt was much more productive: No sales pitch. and the customer service representative did not rush to disconnect until I was sure I could access my account. What a difference in customer service.
And, I was relieved to see that the funds in my accounts were still where they were supposed to be. Yeah! Whew!
Weird Message
As I checked the messages on my cell phone on 4/18/16, I had a message from someone whom did not know. That is not unusual, but usually those are attached to phone calls, and those phone calls are from parts far and wide. This message was a text message with an attachment. Well, you can bet that this was deleted. I do not give out my phone number for receiving text messages. I am not sure what that was all about, but it was a definite DBR (delete before reading.)
It Was a Rough Day - Spitting
April 18, 2016 was a rough day. I am a social worker in a psychiatric prison, and I was scheduled to do a group. The topic of the day was Progressive Muscle Relaxation. One of the patients was so upset about being demoted from level 3 to level one, that he could not hold it together enough to stay in group, and walked out. The reason his level was demoted was because he refused to meet with me when he first moved to my pod, and then, when he did agree to an interview, he was so upset about the topic (questions about his functioning), he walked out of the interview. I took the time in group to try to explain to him he has to participate appropriately, but that did not work.
So, a second group member, who can usually barely hold it together, sat in group and repeatedly did the "Heil Hitler" salute. He was disrupting the group, and would not stop. He spit at me once, and continued his behavior, so I dismissed him from group, and as he left group, he spit on me again. He did not have much saliva, it hit my face and my glasses, and I just washed it off. But there was disciplinary paperwork to do (he did this in front of a correctional sergeant no less.) My boss was called, and came to check on me. That was comforting, but I just wanted to get back to the group. I needed the Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercises for me. One of the group members applauded my return, and after doing the relaxation exercise, the group members made a varied selection of music, all of which was good.
This was not the first time I was spit on by a patient. The first time was during treatment team. We were in a divided day room, with a metal grate between the treatment staff and the patient. The patient spit at the physician assistant who was providing services to him, and got me in collateral damage. This was a patient with whom I had worked very had to establish a good rapport. So, the next time I saw him, he apologized for spitting on me when he meant to spit on the PA. This opened the door for a long discussion about the unintended consequences of negative behavior, and this patient took that to heart, and really did make some behavioral changes.
The second time I was spit at by a patient was through a cell door. Like the patient on 4/18/16, this was a patient who has a lower level intellectual functioning patient, and who had been coaxed by his row mates to learn to spit through the door crack. And, he spit at me. He missed. Amazingly, one of the patients who was instrumental in teaching this patient to spit through the door apologized, because they did not mean for this patient to spit at me. Again, we were able to have a discussion about unintended consequences.
Being spit at, in a prison setting, is considered an assault. On 4/18/16, I felt assaulted. That is disconcerting. It is something that happens in prison, but still, it is disconcerting. There are no free world charges made, it was a "minor" assault. But the patient will have to deal with the consequences which are more restricted movement. Will this help, I do not know, but for the time being, I am in accordance with the restrictions because they will keep me safer than I was.
So, a second group member, who can usually barely hold it together, sat in group and repeatedly did the "Heil Hitler" salute. He was disrupting the group, and would not stop. He spit at me once, and continued his behavior, so I dismissed him from group, and as he left group, he spit on me again. He did not have much saliva, it hit my face and my glasses, and I just washed it off. But there was disciplinary paperwork to do (he did this in front of a correctional sergeant no less.) My boss was called, and came to check on me. That was comforting, but I just wanted to get back to the group. I needed the Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercises for me. One of the group members applauded my return, and after doing the relaxation exercise, the group members made a varied selection of music, all of which was good.
This was not the first time I was spit on by a patient. The first time was during treatment team. We were in a divided day room, with a metal grate between the treatment staff and the patient. The patient spit at the physician assistant who was providing services to him, and got me in collateral damage. This was a patient with whom I had worked very had to establish a good rapport. So, the next time I saw him, he apologized for spitting on me when he meant to spit on the PA. This opened the door for a long discussion about the unintended consequences of negative behavior, and this patient took that to heart, and really did make some behavioral changes.
The second time I was spit at by a patient was through a cell door. Like the patient on 4/18/16, this was a patient who has a lower level intellectual functioning patient, and who had been coaxed by his row mates to learn to spit through the door crack. And, he spit at me. He missed. Amazingly, one of the patients who was instrumental in teaching this patient to spit through the door apologized, because they did not mean for this patient to spit at me. Again, we were able to have a discussion about unintended consequences.
Being spit at, in a prison setting, is considered an assault. On 4/18/16, I felt assaulted. That is disconcerting. It is something that happens in prison, but still, it is disconcerting. There are no free world charges made, it was a "minor" assault. But the patient will have to deal with the consequences which are more restricted movement. Will this help, I do not know, but for the time being, I am in accordance with the restrictions because they will keep me safer than I was.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Our Changing World
I am really surprised at the reactions of people to some of the social changes occurring in our world these days: The acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, individuals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glbtq.com, and the decision to accept gay marriage occurred quickly in the minds of many. I do not think it occurred quickly. I think the seeds were planted in the 60's and 70's, when he "Baby Boomers" were young, not the establishment, and exploring counter-culture ways of life. And, now that the "Baby Boomers" who went through those chaotic years of upheaval and were not "the establishment" have become "the establishment," these enlightened ideas are becoming, if not accepted yet, then at least legally protected social mores.
I think the same is happening with marijuana. The people who are in power and authority now, were exposed, as young people, to the open and free ideas of the 60's and 70's that included the free and open use of marijuana. They are probably people like me who may or may not have really engaged in the counter culture but saw no harm in it, and now are able to vote, wield authority and influence in the world of government and corporate America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction. That, along with the ideas of young people, who also see no harm in marijuana, have made the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use and in a few states, for recreational use, sensible.
So, while many people think we are having some radical social changes in a rapid way, I would say that the seeds were planted in the 1960's and 1970's and now the revolution of social change is being enacted.
I think the same is happening with marijuana. The people who are in power and authority now, were exposed, as young people, to the open and free ideas of the 60's and 70's that included the free and open use of marijuana. They are probably people like me who may or may not have really engaged in the counter culture but saw no harm in it, and now are able to vote, wield authority and influence in the world of government and corporate America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction. That, along with the ideas of young people, who also see no harm in marijuana, have made the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use and in a few states, for recreational use, sensible.
So, while many people think we are having some radical social changes in a rapid way, I would say that the seeds were planted in the 1960's and 1970's and now the revolution of social change is being enacted.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Bing Vs. Google
When I purchased my current laptop in 2014, one of the things that distressed me was that my default search engine was Bing http://www.bing.com/. I did not like and do not like the results I get from Bing, mostly because there are so many commercial sights for every look up. I guess I was not that distressed about it, because the only thing I did was to go to Google https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl when I was doing some searching.
Well, this past weekend, while I was trying to figure out if I could successfully trouble shoot the problems with my printer, I investigated some other things on my computer, and figured out to reset my search engine default. They are tricky, you have to change two settings, or else it does not change. But I am so pleased that I have changed my search engine default to Google. Yeah!
Well, this past weekend, while I was trying to figure out if I could successfully trouble shoot the problems with my printer, I investigated some other things on my computer, and figured out to reset my search engine default. They are tricky, you have to change two settings, or else it does not change. But I am so pleased that I have changed my search engine default to Google. Yeah!
Beans
So, growing up in the northeast, we ate Boston Baked beans, which were soaked overnight, then slow baked in a think molasses based liquid, and flavored with bacon or more typically, salt pork. Preferably, they were baked in the oven in a ceramic or crockery bean pot.
When I moved to Texas, I was introduced to pinto beans or kidney beans, most often cooked with onion, garlic, tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes, and cumin, pepper, and maybe other spices. I eventually adapted my own recipe that included beans, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste (or tomato sauce), bacon or salt pork, or cut up ham, or even a ham bone, ham hock or some other pork pieces for flavoring, green chilies, jalapeño peppers, green peppers, black pepper, chili powder and cumin and maybe some beer to supplement the liquid. These are actually a mild version of beans, spicier than Italian food, but not hot.
I was somewhere along the line, introduced to Ranch Beans http://www.conagrafoods.com/our-food/brands/ranch-style-beans. I prefer the kind with jalapeños, but sometimes settle for beans with onion or plain beans. Even if I get the beans with jalapeños, I add more. I like jalapeños. Well, the past weekend, when I was grocery shopping, I saw Charro style Ranch Beans, and Boraccho Style Ranch Beans, available for a limited time. I bought a can of each, and tried the Boraccho Style Beans today. I was not impressed. That is okay, I can try them once.
When I moved to Texas, I was introduced to pinto beans or kidney beans, most often cooked with onion, garlic, tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes, and cumin, pepper, and maybe other spices. I eventually adapted my own recipe that included beans, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste (or tomato sauce), bacon or salt pork, or cut up ham, or even a ham bone, ham hock or some other pork pieces for flavoring, green chilies, jalapeño peppers, green peppers, black pepper, chili powder and cumin and maybe some beer to supplement the liquid. These are actually a mild version of beans, spicier than Italian food, but not hot.
I was somewhere along the line, introduced to Ranch Beans http://www.conagrafoods.com/our-food/brands/ranch-style-beans. I prefer the kind with jalapeños, but sometimes settle for beans with onion or plain beans. Even if I get the beans with jalapeños, I add more. I like jalapeños. Well, the past weekend, when I was grocery shopping, I saw Charro style Ranch Beans, and Boraccho Style Ranch Beans, available for a limited time. I bought a can of each, and tried the Boraccho Style Beans today. I was not impressed. That is okay, I can try them once.
Storms April 2016
So, we were supposed to have a chance of severe thunderstorms Friday night, and some on Saturday. So much so, that some sporting events were cancelled. But, the storms did not materialize. We had strong winds Friday night, and other areas on the South Plains had precipitation, thunder and lightning, but not Lubbock. Today, it was a very pretty day. Sometime this evening, though storms popped up. About 9 PM, I was seeing flashes to the north. I thought it might be an emergency vehicle on the street, but looking out, it was not! It was lightning, I could hear thunder, and we were getting rain. The rain came down so hard that there were flood warnings forecast for the storm. And, the forecast says possible, but not probably rains next week.
We need the rain.
So, although we have a waxing, gibbous moon tonight, http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml, it is a very dark night. I have to think that is because of the storm clouds that still hang in our skies tonight, although the storms themselves seem to waning.
We need the rain.
So, although we have a waxing, gibbous moon tonight, http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml, it is a very dark night. I have to think that is because of the storm clouds that still hang in our skies tonight, although the storms themselves seem to waning.
Printer, Scanner, Copier
So my inexpensive printer could not be resurrected today. I decided that I was going to look for another Hewlett Packard printer that takes the same cartridge, because I had spares. And printer cartridges are expensive. So, I went to Wal-Mart http://www.walmart.com/ first, and decided to look elsewhere, specifically Office Depot. Well between Wal Mart and Office Depot http://www.officedepot.com/there was Target http://www.target.com/ ! I stopped in, and sure enough, they had a couple of printers that take the same cartridge as I had. Both took the same cartridge. One was the last model they had on the shelf, and marked half off. So I bought a really inexpensive printer at a really low price, less expensive that it costs to buy a set of black and colored cartridges for the printer! And, for now, it works.
This is especially important, because what I did not write yesterday, was that this is the week leading up to the NASW conference. For that conference, I am charged with making pre-registration lists, sign in sheets, and printing off the completed attendance verification forms that we are asking our registrants to complete before the conference. So, I need to be able to print, and I can!
This is especially important, because what I did not write yesterday, was that this is the week leading up to the NASW conference. For that conference, I am charged with making pre-registration lists, sign in sheets, and printing off the completed attendance verification forms that we are asking our registrants to complete before the conference. So, I need to be able to print, and I can!
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Printer Problem
I have a Hewlett Packard Printer Scanner Copier. I purchased it in 2014, and have never been really happy with it. I could not print post cards, and the paper feed has always been a problem. Today, I was trying to print, and it just did not happen. I did all of the trouble shooting HP offered on line to no avail. I am so frustrated. So, tonight, I have disconnected the power from the printer. I will try again in the morning, and if nothing works, I will just get a new Printer Scanner Copier, and hope it is not anything more than a cheap Printer Scanner Copier.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The Red Sox vs. The Boston Celtics
Okay, so living in Lubbock, Texas, I do not get much television coverage of the Boston Red Sox or the Boston Celtics, unless they are playing a Texas team, or they are having national coverage.
Well, tonight, ESPN covered the Boston Celtics vs. the Miami Heat http://www.nba.com/celtics/. They were playing in the TD Garden http://www.tdgarden.com/ in Boston, Ma. I wanted to watch the game, but my first love is baseball, and the Boston Red Sox http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos were playing the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/, which was covered on ESPN2.
Which game do you think I watched. Well of course, if you really know me it was the baseball game.
The Boston Celtics won tonight, 88-98 against the Miami Heat.
The Boston Red Sox won tonight, 4-2 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Maybe the next time one of these teams is covered nationally, the other will not be. Oh well.
Well, tonight, ESPN covered the Boston Celtics vs. the Miami Heat http://www.nba.com/celtics/. They were playing in the TD Garden http://www.tdgarden.com/ in Boston, Ma. I wanted to watch the game, but my first love is baseball, and the Boston Red Sox http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos were playing the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/, which was covered on ESPN2.
Which game do you think I watched. Well of course, if you really know me it was the baseball game.
The Boston Celtics won tonight, 88-98 against the Miami Heat.
The Boston Red Sox won tonight, 4-2 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Maybe the next time one of these teams is covered nationally, the other will not be. Oh well.
Jackie Robinson Day
Friday, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Robinson_Day. http://web.mlbcommunity.org/index.jsp?content=programs&program=jackie_robinson_foundation
I am a Jackie Robinson fan. I saw the movie 42 http://www.warnerbros.com/42 twice in the movie theater (I rarely see a movie once in the theater.) That inspired me to read that book Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersad. The movie really followed the first part of the book very closely. I was impressed.
Monday and Tuesday of this week, I watched Jackie Robinson on PBS, produced by Ken Burns. It very much reiterated what the movie 42 and the book Jackie Robinson: A Biography depicted, but it added some parts that were not in either. And having first person comments from Mrs. Rachel Robinson, and the two surviving Robinson children, Sharon and David made it that much more interesting.
I wish I had thought to order a Jackie Robinson shirt to wear to work this Friday, but it was too late when I thought about it. I can go around wishing people a Happy Jackie Robinson Day! Maybe you can, too.
I am a Jackie Robinson fan. I saw the movie 42 http://www.warnerbros.com/42 twice in the movie theater (I rarely see a movie once in the theater.) That inspired me to read that book Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersad. The movie really followed the first part of the book very closely. I was impressed.
Monday and Tuesday of this week, I watched Jackie Robinson on PBS, produced by Ken Burns. It very much reiterated what the movie 42 and the book Jackie Robinson: A Biography depicted, but it added some parts that were not in either. And having first person comments from Mrs. Rachel Robinson, and the two surviving Robinson children, Sharon and David made it that much more interesting.
I wish I had thought to order a Jackie Robinson shirt to wear to work this Friday, but it was too late when I thought about it. I can go around wishing people a Happy Jackie Robinson Day! Maybe you can, too.
World War II Movies
I like World War II movies. I do not know why I like World War II movies, but I do. I do not know why I am thinking about this tonight, or this morning, but I am . My favorite World War II movies are The Longest Day http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/, In Harms Way http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059309/ and Pattton http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066206/.
There are many other World War II movies I like: The Battle of the Bulge http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058947/, Midway http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074899/, Saving Private Ryan http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/, The Monuments Men http://www.monumentsmen.com/, The Red Ball Express http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045072/, Stalag 17 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046359/, The Miracle of the White Stallions http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057312/, Run Silent Run Deep http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052151/.
These are just a few of the many World War II movies I like to watch. Call me weird, but it is what it is.
There are many other World War II movies I like: The Battle of the Bulge http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058947/, Midway http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074899/, Saving Private Ryan http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/, The Monuments Men http://www.monumentsmen.com/, The Red Ball Express http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045072/, Stalag 17 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046359/, The Miracle of the White Stallions http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057312/, Run Silent Run Deep http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052151/.
These are just a few of the many World War II movies I like to watch. Call me weird, but it is what it is.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
The Knitting Bag
So, for some reason, one of my knitting project bags that has balls and skeins of yarn in it has ended up on the floor in the computer room. Amazingly to me, Taki has taken a liking to this bag. She often lays on it, and kneads the bag. I am not sure what the attraction is. Especially, because just recently, I have also placed a clear plastic bag with yarn balls In it on the floor next to the project bag. And she ignores that bag.
Hmmm, can you tell me why she likes one bag and not the other?
Hmmm, can you tell me why she likes one bag and not the other?
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