Several Random Acts of Kindness

At the Memorial Day Service today, I witnessed several acts of kindness.  I was sitting in the sun. It was warm, but not so bad.  I women whom I did not know came up and stood beside me and angled her parasol so she and I both benefited from the shade.

Part way through the ceremony, an elderly woman seemed to be overcome with the heat.  Her friend was trying to get her out of the sun, but the woman could not go very far. They sat her in the shade.  The woman with the parasol gave me her parasol to hold and went to help.  She handed me her cup and took the parasol to shade the woman.  Several of the

Veterans in the crowd moved in, and the woman  with the parasol asked for ice.  They did not have ice but brought several bottles of ice water, and cloths.  They put a bottle behind the affected woman's neck, wet the clothe to cool her face, and wet her hands. They took her shoes off and wet her feet too. 

The woman recovered sufficiently enough to sing God Bless America at the end of the ceremony. She felt well enough to drive home, and one of the Veterans went to get her car, and drove it close in to where the ceremony was.  He also left the air conditioning running in her car.

It turned out the Vet who took charge was an EMT, and the lady who asked for ice was a retired LVN.  Everyone who watched thanked them for their help and service, although we did not know the woman.

The interesting part was that the hostess of the event never seemed to notice or acknowledge what was happening in the audience.  Weird.  

Memorial Day 2018

So, today, I went to the Memorial Day Service at the City of Lubbock Cemetery.  The cemetery is not very far from the wind farm and railroad tracks.  Sometimes, in years past, a train has passed by during the service, but not this year.  This year, though, the wind was strong enough to keep the windmills churning, and there was a constant drone from them. 

Although there was a microphone and amplifier for the speakers, the speakers were very difficult to hear.  The ceremony went off okay, but it was frustrating to miss much of what was said.

I feel bad for the guest speaker. He received a polite welcome and response, but much of what he said was lost.  

Memorial Day Service

I could not find the announcement about this year's Memorial Day Service.  So, I contacted the City of Lubbock, and received a response back:

That was nice of them to do so.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 21^st, 2018

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:

Leslie Morgan, Management Assistant, (806) 775-2669/ lmorgan@mylubbock.us

Memorial Day Service at the Historic City of Lubbock Cemetery

In commemoration of Memorial Day, the Nancy Anderson Chapter of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in conjunction with the Historic City of Lubbock Cemetery, will be holding a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 28^th, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.  The service will be held in the gazebo in front of the City of Lubbock Cemetery office at 2011 E 31^st Street (two blocks east of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. on East 31^st St). Admission is free of charge.  Guests are highly encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets as chair seating will be limited. 

Colonel (ret) Michael Bob Starr, United States Air Force will be the featured speaker.  Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Troops will be placing flags on gravesites that have a Veterans Administration Memorial headstone or footstone.  Friends of Indiana Avenue Baptist Church will be singing The National Anthem and God Bless America and The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard will be presenting our Nation’s colors and honoring our Veterans with a 21 Gun Salute followed by the playing of TAPS.  It is estimated that there are more than 2,000 veterans who are buried at the Historic City of Lubbock Cemetery.  Everyone is encouraged to attend this service and place an American Flag on the grave of a Veteran.

Election Experience

This is the body of the letter I sent to the election administrator of Lubbock County, based on my voting experience on May 22, 2018:

May 23, 2018

Election Administrator Dorothy Kennedy

1308 Crickets Avenue

Lubbock, Tx.  79401

Ms. Kennedy:

I voted in the election held on May 22, 2018 and I voted at Parsons Elementary in the late afternoon.  The people at the voting sight were very helpful, but frankly, I was a little concerned.  The lady who checked me in had trouble printing the label, and it turned out the paper spool had run out.  She kept telling it to print, so multiple labels were printed. I did not think she was going to do anything inappropriate with the labels, and I did not complain about the time elapsed or the excess of labels.  I had told her I would be voting Democrat, which was reflected on the label, but she put it on the Republican card, saying she just assumed I was voting Republican.  Her coworker noted that the label indicated Democrat, and that was easily and pleasantly resolved.

I understand that people are recruited to help with elections, and may not be experienced at the process. If I were a different kind of person, I could have made a big deal about an election “official” assuming I was going to vote Republican when indeed I was not.  I am not that kind of person. However, I am the kind of person who wants problems to be resolved and corrected so they do not occur again.

I know you will address this issue with election workers and officials.

Thank you for your service to our county.

Joyce Badger

2805 62^nd St.

Lubbock, Tx  79413

806-928-0805

Joints

So as is wont to happen, my joints respond to the change in barometric pressure.  I was achy this morning, but did okay during the day.  I was out and about this afternoon, but as I was returning home from a social gathering, I could feel the pressure in my joints mounting. And sure enough, this evening, we had and have continued to have thunderstorms, with lightening, wind, rain and hail. All arbiters of barometric pressure change that would affect my joints and that has happened   Not unbearable, but I can feel it.




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Hail Today

So today was another day of storms and potential storms.  Mid-afternoon, I was out running errands, and the rain drops were so intermittent as to be almost non-existent.  The storms dissipated until early evening, then returned.  We had a good drenching rain, and hail that ranged from pea sized to marble sized to the occasional golf ball sized.  The infrequency of the golf ball sized hail makes me hope the damage was not too severe. There was no obvious damage in my yard, front or back.

The blessing is that the rain was persistent, and will nourish the grass, bushes and trees.  And the hail stones will melt into the ground instead of run off in a rush of water that happens when we get deluges of rain.  

Storms and Fresh Air

Last night, we had some thunderstorms blow through.  There was no serious rain or hail at my house, and the wind was not bad. But after the storms blew through, the night air was so cool and refreshing, I sat outside with an afghan and enjoyed the night air while I read. That was so refreshing!

Eye Drops

For years, I have used over the counter saline eye drops when my eyes have felt dry, itchy or have been red.  Some years ago, an optometrist gave me a sample of Similasan drops which were wonderful. I purchased those for some time.  More recently, I was provided with a sample of Systane, but have not purchased any, although I appreciate the relief from the sample.  

I am thinking about eye drops tonight because I sat out and read in my back yard, this evening.  And now my eyes are itching.  They also itched after I did some yard work over the weekend, so I know that pollen is heavy right now.  In fact, when I was sitting outside in the yard, I became very congested, but the congestion cleared up shortly after I moved inside.  That is not unusual for me. 

Cat Attention

As noted earlier, I called in sick today.  And spent some time sleeping intermittently on the reclining sofa today. One of the things that gave me pleasure today was that at one point, late this morning, I had Taki sitting on my lap, and Haiku sitting on my chest. (Even though she is light, it makes it hard to breathe, but I cannot object. I love her attention.)

There is tension and power play between these two cats: civilized, no hissing or slapping, generally, although sometimes Taki does slap.  Haiku is very submissive, and can be stared away from her food, or perch.  Which I hate, so sometimes, I feed her in unlikely places, if she is crying and wants to eat but does not go to where her food dishes are. And I try to encourage her to maintain her perch next to me. And sometimes, she does. 

Haiku also has what the veterinarian calls "cat dementia."  So, sometimes, Haiku acts like she does not know where she is, or how to get out of a closet, or favorite hidey-hole, although there is nothing blocking her way.  Also, sometimes, she does not seem to know how to use the litter pan, and sits there, but "misses" the pan and uses the plastic sheeting underneath, unwittingly.

The NBA Playoffs

I like basketball, and this year, the Celtics are in The NBA playoffs, so I am interested, not only in their games, but in the games of their potential opponents.  It has proven to be an interesting distraction.  

Medical Care

My PCP is a nurse practitioner in whom I have absolute confidence. She has never hesitated to check with her supervising physician if she is unsure of something, she is practical, concerned about cost of medications and treatment, and not replicating costs by adding extra visits.  

A few years ago, because I have high blood pressure and a family history of heart problems, she referred me to a cardiologist, whom I initially liked.  I became a little disenchanted with him when he sent me for a carotid artery scan, and then not only did not contact me with the results, did not respond, nor did anyone in his office respond, when I called to ask about the results.  Well, that lead me to believe that there was no problem, and when I saw my PCP next, she told me the results were something she did not think she had ever seen before: 0-15% blockage.  When she told me this, I thought the cardiologist probably ordered a test I did not need.  

I asked the PCP what other tests I should expect from the cardiologist, and she said basically, none, given my labs and other results.  And, she was right.  The cardiologist not only has not ordered anything else, but has relegated me to the care of his nurse practitioner, which tells me I am there only for maintenance, not treatment.  Originally, the cardiologist wanted to see me every three months, but I objected, because that would put me seeing both the cardiologist and my PCP during the same month twice a year, so I changed that. 

So, I saw the cardiologist nurse practitioner last in January.  And this week, I received an explanation of benefits from the insurance company that my appointment was not covered, because they billed for the wrong diagnosis.  When I called the insurance company, they informed me that the bill had been resubmitted with the correct diagnosis, and took my explanation of the reason for the visit, which the representative said fit with the rebilling and would be considered when the bill was resubmitted. I have to say, this did not instill confidence in me regarding the support staff in my cardiologists office.  So, my confidence in this service has continued to diminish.

I have a cardiology appointment in July. I am tempted to cancel it, and just ask for an appointment in January, when they can renew a medication. I don't know, I will probably keep the appointment in July, and  If there is nothing new, I will be content to see the cardiologist again in January, when they need to renew one of my medications.  And, then, I will ask to change appointments to once a year, unless something has changed. 

I hate going to the doctor.  I am having health problems, and I recognize that, but I do not feel the cardiologist is particularly responsive to me.

The PCP, on the other hand, is sharp. In my well check in April, she asked about joint pain, and when I described my joint pain, she did a blood test that detected uric acid (or something) in my system that lead her to believe I am prone to attacks of gouty arthritis.  She added a medication, and it has helped to relieve some of the burning joint pain in my feet and ankles.  It does not last 24 hours, so I am thinking I should change it to the morning, and it can wear off at night while I am asleep.   Hmmm.

Paying Bills

I do most of my bill paying on line, and am grateful for the option from my bank.  For years, I had a system of writing a check, filling out an envelope, and putting a due date in the corner, then keeping the envelope in a place I checked regularly, putting the payment out to mail a few days before the bill was due.   I was rarely late with a payment, but once every few years, goofed up.

Now, with bill pay on line, I can set up a payment from my bank for a bill that might not be due for a month or two after I receive it (insurance mostly.)  But today, I realized I did not make a payment in a timely way.  I had received the bill, and deducted it from my checking account, but forgot to enter it into bill pay.  I do this rarely, but I also try to check bill pay a couple of times a month to make sure I am on top of paying my bills. I know what bill is due based on the date of payment the prior month, so that is helpful. I will be a day late with this payment.  I do not think the recipient will dock me, but if they do, it is my fault.

Calling in Sick

I did something I do not do often, although have done more in the last few months than I ever have in my working life.  I called in sick today.  I did not feel good at work yesterday, and by the afternoon, it was all I had to be able to walk the halls and sit at my desk and do documentation. But I stuck it out.

When I got up this morning, I just could not pull myself together. I fed the cats and showered, but in the shower decided this was crazy; I have plenty of sick leave, and if I could hardly get through a shower, how did I think I could get through the day?  So I called in (actually emailed in.)  My boss is so supportive, and asked if I needed anything she could bring by.  So kind.  I keep pretty well stocked with soups and drinks and medicine.   I took a couple of aspirin, and slept on the sofa, reading intermittently, but mostly sleeping until early afternoon, 2 PM or so.   By then, I was feeling better.   

And, I feel better tonight than what I felt last night.  Hopefully, I will be okay in the morning.  I am not sure why I get so worn out.  I was just at the doctor, but I may need to go back and complain about this heaviness and feeling of being worn out.

Rain? Really?

Lubbock is smack dab in the middle of a drought.  We have had some trace moisture recently, but not enough to say so.  Today, there were thunderstorms all around us.  A wall of dust blew in, and some rain with hail blew through.   My yard received so little rain that much of the area did not even get wet.  That is really disappointing.  I did not want large hail, but I did hope for some rain.

That was happening about 5:30 to 6 PM.  Now it is about 7:45 PM, and the sky is as bright and sunny as can be, as if no severe weather even came through.

I watered the trees Sunday.  I have cut the tap root weeds, but the grass is not growing, except where I am watering.  The Vinca looks very healthy.  I think it helped that my yard service scalped it last year, and that it was well watered when I emptied the rain barrel earlier this year to clean it out.

The Yankees on the Road

Living in Lubbock, Texas, I do not get much opportunity to watch Yankee baseball on TV, unless I subscribe to the YES Network, and I do not even know if that is possible from here. So, I try to keep abreast of the national broadcasts that air their games, or if they play a Texas team, and look for a local broadcast.  Years ago, I was more likely to see them playing the Astros, because for some strange reason, although the Astros in Houston are farther away geographically than the Rangers in Arlington, the Astros had better TV coverage.  Until the last few years, when the Rangers developed a major deal with FOX. and FOX airs their games much more regularly, very much what grew up with in Western Massachusetts with the Red Sox.  (The regular reader knows that I am both a Yankee and a Red Sox fan.)

Something interesting has been happening with Yankee baseball. The national announcers are commenting more and more on the number of Yankee fans who attend away games.  This happened earlier in the season, but was most well documented when Didi Gregorius  hit a walk-off home run and the fans asked for curtain call in Anaheim, when the Yankees were playing the Angels..  

So, tonight, I am able to watch a Yankee game, on ESPN.