My grandmother, Melba W. Harris, 84, of Salem, passed away this morning.
I loved her a lot.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Exit 150
So VDOT plans to "fix" Exit 150 with a little paint and a couple of traffic barriers.
This is ridiculous. The exit in question is one of the state's busiest interchanges. It is the intersection of US 11, US 220, and Interstate 81. A truck stop smack in the center of the exit ramp creates most of the problem.
One of Botetourt's supervisors has suggested simply buying out the truckstop to alleviate the problem. I think this suggestion has great merit and would, in fact, help the situation tremendously.
Because it is the tractor trailers, pulling in and pulling out and scaring motorists half to death sometimes, that block traffic and create back ups.
I cringe every time I go through the intersection. When I am older, I will be unable to get out of the county for fear of my life at the interchange.
The county, of course, is waiting on the state to do something, and the state is waiting on ... well, I don't know what the state is waiting on. We are in this "don't spend money" phase in this nation and Virginia's infrastructure is suffering along with everyone else's.
The all-out-and-out fix, which as I understand it would work around the truckstop, would cost about $182 million. I don't know what the truckstop is worth but I bet you could buy it out and shut it down for a whole lot less than that.
I suggested to a couple of supervisors that the county should purchase land some place else and make an offer to the truckstop to move.
No one liked that idea. But they do it for everyone else - that is why there is a Greenfield Industrial Park and an East Park Industrial Center and Vista Industrial Park in the county. So we can offer corporations welfare to come in here, take our tax dollars and financial incentives, and then renege on their commitments and leave.
We might as well accomplish something, like less congestion at Exit 150, while we're handing money hand over fist to corporations, don't you think?
Anyway, the state wants to spend $2 million on paint - and another $1 million to move the Park & Ride, which, as best I can tell, doesn't do a thing for the situation.
A million for a parking lot. Yeah, that'll help the traffic flow.
This is ridiculous. The exit in question is one of the state's busiest interchanges. It is the intersection of US 11, US 220, and Interstate 81. A truck stop smack in the center of the exit ramp creates most of the problem.
One of Botetourt's supervisors has suggested simply buying out the truckstop to alleviate the problem. I think this suggestion has great merit and would, in fact, help the situation tremendously.
Because it is the tractor trailers, pulling in and pulling out and scaring motorists half to death sometimes, that block traffic and create back ups.
I cringe every time I go through the intersection. When I am older, I will be unable to get out of the county for fear of my life at the interchange.
The county, of course, is waiting on the state to do something, and the state is waiting on ... well, I don't know what the state is waiting on. We are in this "don't spend money" phase in this nation and Virginia's infrastructure is suffering along with everyone else's.
The all-out-and-out fix, which as I understand it would work around the truckstop, would cost about $182 million. I don't know what the truckstop is worth but I bet you could buy it out and shut it down for a whole lot less than that.
I suggested to a couple of supervisors that the county should purchase land some place else and make an offer to the truckstop to move.
No one liked that idea. But they do it for everyone else - that is why there is a Greenfield Industrial Park and an East Park Industrial Center and Vista Industrial Park in the county. So we can offer corporations welfare to come in here, take our tax dollars and financial incentives, and then renege on their commitments and leave.
We might as well accomplish something, like less congestion at Exit 150, while we're handing money hand over fist to corporations, don't you think?
Anyway, the state wants to spend $2 million on paint - and another $1 million to move the Park & Ride, which, as best I can tell, doesn't do a thing for the situation.
A million for a parking lot. Yeah, that'll help the traffic flow.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Mental Health Care
I find it appalling that Virginia's mental health care system, ignored for decades, is finally "found lacking" because some nut decided to let loose with a gun.
This has been a problem at least since the early 1980s and most likely was an issue well before then. It is a system-wide failure, not only with commitments, voluntary or involuntary, but with available health care and follow up.
Walk the streets of any city in this state and you'll see the results of the inadequacies. People in tatters roaming downtown, muttering and talking to themselves. People unable to hold jobs because of their mental health. People who may be able to be back in the work force with proper care and treatment.
The articles out now cite concerns about "warehousing" the mentally ill. Which is worse than letting folks die of exposure in the streets how?
Our nursing homes are full of "warehoused" mentally ill elderly people. These are sad and horrific places. I know because I hear them and see them every time I visit my grandmother in Richfield. The only reason they are cared for is because of Medicare and Medicaid. Younger people fall through the cracks because there isn't a government program to care for them.
My main concern with loosening the "imminent danger" standards for commitment lie with people like a few I know who would take advantage of the looser rules. Folks like this would use the looser rules for convenience. As in, wife not behaving properly? Have her declared insane.... that'll end the problem.
I know someone who grew up with this threat. It was lashed toward her (be a good girl or you'll be sent to Staunton was one of her parents' main threats. There used to be a mental health facility up there.)
I have heard adults use this threat with one another, too.
So that would be my worry. That folks who aren't in need of a commitment might somehow end up with one.
But that niggling worry isn't enough for me to say, don't make health care reform. We desperately need mental health care reform (and reform of all health care) in this state, if not the country.
Something must be done. It should have been done decades ago.
This has been a problem at least since the early 1980s and most likely was an issue well before then. It is a system-wide failure, not only with commitments, voluntary or involuntary, but with available health care and follow up.
Walk the streets of any city in this state and you'll see the results of the inadequacies. People in tatters roaming downtown, muttering and talking to themselves. People unable to hold jobs because of their mental health. People who may be able to be back in the work force with proper care and treatment.
The articles out now cite concerns about "warehousing" the mentally ill. Which is worse than letting folks die of exposure in the streets how?
Our nursing homes are full of "warehoused" mentally ill elderly people. These are sad and horrific places. I know because I hear them and see them every time I visit my grandmother in Richfield. The only reason they are cared for is because of Medicare and Medicaid. Younger people fall through the cracks because there isn't a government program to care for them.
My main concern with loosening the "imminent danger" standards for commitment lie with people like a few I know who would take advantage of the looser rules. Folks like this would use the looser rules for convenience. As in, wife not behaving properly? Have her declared insane.... that'll end the problem.
I know someone who grew up with this threat. It was lashed toward her (be a good girl or you'll be sent to Staunton was one of her parents' main threats. There used to be a mental health facility up there.)
I have heard adults use this threat with one another, too.
So that would be my worry. That folks who aren't in need of a commitment might somehow end up with one.
But that niggling worry isn't enough for me to say, don't make health care reform. We desperately need mental health care reform (and reform of all health care) in this state, if not the country.
Something must be done. It should have been done decades ago.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
Desperate for my weekly thirteen, I decided to write about my favorite brands. Oddly enough, I don't have a number one favorite. I am not overly brand loyal but there are a few things to which I am partial. So here they are, not in any particular order:
1. Toyota. I drive a Camry and I really enjoy the car. My husband will only drive Fords, and this is the first "foreign" car we've ever owned. But after having two failed Ford Tauruses, I opted to go for the Toyota and have never regretted the decision.
2. Coca-Cola. I have always liked Coke products better than Pepsi. Plus they have those cute bears in their Christmas commercials.
3. Pilot Pens. My favorite brand of ink pens are Pilot G-2, extra fine. My husband hates them.
4. Hewlett Packard. The best printers I have ever owned have been HPs. I include HP printer ink in this, too, as I've tried generic and it doesn't work as well. I had an HP computer pre-2000 and I liked it a lot. It is still working, actually. My aunt and uncle use it.
5. AT&T. The phones were never the same when AT&T broke up. Ma Bell, I miss you so. Your new reincarnation rings no bells.
6. Synthroid. This is a medication I take for thyroid problems. I can't take the generic because, in spite of the claims, the generic works differently on me than the real thing.
7. RCA. Most of our TVs and stereos are made by RCA. I am not sure why but I think it has to do with the picture and sound quality and what we like.
8. Nikon. Even though I am currently using a Canon S3-Powershot, I miss Nikon. Nikon has a little different picture quality and I think I prefer it. The Canon is fine, just different.
9. Fruit of the Loom. My brand of undies. Now you know.
10. Peter Pan Peanut Butter. When they recalled this, we had three jars of the contaminated stuff here. We have been eating Jif. It isn't bad, but it isn't Peter Pan, either. My husband and I both grew up with Peter Pan and I guess that is where this comes from.
11. Nabisco. Especially Fig Newtons. I have tried other brands but theirs is the best tasting.
12. Silk. I like their soy milk products.
13. Alfred Dunner. These conservative clothes don't express my personality well, but they always fit and they look very professional. My closet is full of them.
1. Toyota. I drive a Camry and I really enjoy the car. My husband will only drive Fords, and this is the first "foreign" car we've ever owned. But after having two failed Ford Tauruses, I opted to go for the Toyota and have never regretted the decision.
2. Coca-Cola. I have always liked Coke products better than Pepsi. Plus they have those cute bears in their Christmas commercials.
3. Pilot Pens. My favorite brand of ink pens are Pilot G-2, extra fine. My husband hates them.
4. Hewlett Packard. The best printers I have ever owned have been HPs. I include HP printer ink in this, too, as I've tried generic and it doesn't work as well. I had an HP computer pre-2000 and I liked it a lot. It is still working, actually. My aunt and uncle use it.
5. AT&T. The phones were never the same when AT&T broke up. Ma Bell, I miss you so. Your new reincarnation rings no bells.
6. Synthroid. This is a medication I take for thyroid problems. I can't take the generic because, in spite of the claims, the generic works differently on me than the real thing.
7. RCA. Most of our TVs and stereos are made by RCA. I am not sure why but I think it has to do with the picture and sound quality and what we like.
8. Nikon. Even though I am currently using a Canon S3-Powershot, I miss Nikon. Nikon has a little different picture quality and I think I prefer it. The Canon is fine, just different.
9. Fruit of the Loom. My brand of undies. Now you know.
10. Peter Pan Peanut Butter. When they recalled this, we had three jars of the contaminated stuff here. We have been eating Jif. It isn't bad, but it isn't Peter Pan, either. My husband and I both grew up with Peter Pan and I guess that is where this comes from.
11. Nabisco. Especially Fig Newtons. I have tried other brands but theirs is the best tasting.
12. Silk. I like their soy milk products.
13. Alfred Dunner. These conservative clothes don't express my personality well, but they always fit and they look very professional. My closet is full of them.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Dead Cow
One of the interesting things about farming is you get to have blog titles like "dead cow."
This could be a disgusting entry. You have been warned.
Turns out our poor cow was struck by lightning, according to the vet. He came out late yesterday evening to take a look.
We had no storm Monday night but they did have one about 6 miles away. I guess she took a wayward bolt.
Lightning does interesting things to cows. According to my husband, when it strikes them it cooks them immediately from the inside out. They bloat up immediately.
Vultures hover but won't eat them. They like their meat raw, I guess.
I am not one to go look at dead bloated animals for myself, so I will take his word for these things.
The cow has been buried.
These are the real-life things that go on when you farm. Sometimes things are not good. Not only did we lose a good cow, it is an economic blow. We lost too the calf she was carrying and any future stock. We'll have to lay out more money to replace her.
Farming is full of hazards. Lightning is only one of them.
As a side note, we still don't know what stampeded the cows and killed the goose. Apparently that was an incident separate from the dead cow.
This could be a disgusting entry. You have been warned.
Turns out our poor cow was struck by lightning, according to the vet. He came out late yesterday evening to take a look.
We had no storm Monday night but they did have one about 6 miles away. I guess she took a wayward bolt.
Lightning does interesting things to cows. According to my husband, when it strikes them it cooks them immediately from the inside out. They bloat up immediately.
Vultures hover but won't eat them. They like their meat raw, I guess.
I am not one to go look at dead bloated animals for myself, so I will take his word for these things.
The cow has been buried.
These are the real-life things that go on when you farm. Sometimes things are not good. Not only did we lose a good cow, it is an economic blow. We lost too the calf she was carrying and any future stock. We'll have to lay out more money to replace her.
Farming is full of hazards. Lightning is only one of them.
As a side note, we still don't know what stampeded the cows and killed the goose. Apparently that was an incident separate from the dead cow.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Nightmares
As the wife of a firefighter, this is my worst nightmare:
South Carolina Blaze Kills Nine Firefighters Cause of Warehouse Fire Under Investigation
By BRUCE SMITH
AP
Posted: 2007-06-19 10:36:52
CHARLESTON, S.C. (June 19) -- Fire swept through a furniture warehouse,
collapsing the building's roof and claiming the lives of nine firefighters in a
disaster the mayor described Tuesday as "difficult to fathom or quantify."
Bump in the Night
We were readying for bed when the phone rang.
"Something has the cows all upset. They're stampeding!" a neighbor cried. "We thought we saw a coyote or something."
Of course by the time husband put his britches on, loaded his gun and drove to the other side of the farm, whatever was prowling was gone. The cows, still nervous, eyed him warily but they were not stampeding.
He found a dead goose. A wild Canadian goose, he said, not one of the neighbor's tame ones.
This morning, with daylight, he checked the cows.
He found one dead.
We don't know what happened. We don't know if the cow was sick and died, perhaps drawing a coyote, or if it something killed her.
Perhaps it was a bear. We have bears around here sometimes.
Maybe whatever was causing a raucous last night scared the poor cow to death!
We don't know what happened, though, and the ground is so packed and dry there were no prints or signs.
Now we are short one cow. We will have to bury her, but that can't be done until the insurance people are called. Ew.
"Something has the cows all upset. They're stampeding!" a neighbor cried. "We thought we saw a coyote or something."
Of course by the time husband put his britches on, loaded his gun and drove to the other side of the farm, whatever was prowling was gone. The cows, still nervous, eyed him warily but they were not stampeding.
He found a dead goose. A wild Canadian goose, he said, not one of the neighbor's tame ones.
This morning, with daylight, he checked the cows.
He found one dead.
We don't know what happened. We don't know if the cow was sick and died, perhaps drawing a coyote, or if it something killed her.
Perhaps it was a bear. We have bears around here sometimes.
Maybe whatever was causing a raucous last night scared the poor cow to death!
We don't know what happened, though, and the ground is so packed and dry there were no prints or signs.
Now we are short one cow. We will have to bury her, but that can't be done until the insurance people are called. Ew.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Books: Shem Creek
Shem Creek: A Low Country Tale
By
Dorothea Benton Frank
Copyright 2004
Read by Sandra Burr and Dick Hill
This book is of the romance genre, I guess. It is set in South Carolina in an area I am familiar with. That always makes a book interesting to me, if I'm familiar with the setting.
Linda Breland is a single mom from South Carolina who ended up in New Jersey, divorced with two daughters. She decides to go back to her hometown. Lindsey, her eldest, will start college but Gracie has two more years of high school. Gracie is a pistol who gets into trouble a lot and probably could use some good parenting.
Brad is the owner of a restaurant where Linda gets a job as a manager after she moves. He is in the process of divorcing when his wife dies. He brings his son home to live with him. Linda gets involved and talks to him in a way I would never to speak to a boss, but then again, I'm pretty timid.
Anyway, Linda dates other guys, including Jason Miller, Gracie's new high school teacher, who is an environmentalist. Unfortunately the book takes a dim view of people who care about the environment and paints everyone who may feel that way as a terrorist or nutcase. I wasn't particularly thrilled with that aspect of the novel (being an environmentalist myself).
Linda and Brad finally figure out they should hook up, but not before Jason Miller manages to burn down the restaurant. What hijinks, eh?
The book lacked depth but the characters were okay. Linda definitely is not a thinker and I had trouble identifying with her as the main character for that reason. She seemed shallow to me but it fit with the book.
A beach read. Neither bad nor good; it is what it is.
About the audio: I would never have guessed that was Dick Hill reading. I've always thought he was a wonderful reader but this was different from anything else I've heard him read. It wasn't bad, just different.
3 stars
By
Dorothea Benton Frank
Copyright 2004
Read by Sandra Burr and Dick Hill
This book is of the romance genre, I guess. It is set in South Carolina in an area I am familiar with. That always makes a book interesting to me, if I'm familiar with the setting.
Linda Breland is a single mom from South Carolina who ended up in New Jersey, divorced with two daughters. She decides to go back to her hometown. Lindsey, her eldest, will start college but Gracie has two more years of high school. Gracie is a pistol who gets into trouble a lot and probably could use some good parenting.
Brad is the owner of a restaurant where Linda gets a job as a manager after she moves. He is in the process of divorcing when his wife dies. He brings his son home to live with him. Linda gets involved and talks to him in a way I would never to speak to a boss, but then again, I'm pretty timid.
Anyway, Linda dates other guys, including Jason Miller, Gracie's new high school teacher, who is an environmentalist. Unfortunately the book takes a dim view of people who care about the environment and paints everyone who may feel that way as a terrorist or nutcase. I wasn't particularly thrilled with that aspect of the novel (being an environmentalist myself).
Linda and Brad finally figure out they should hook up, but not before Jason Miller manages to burn down the restaurant. What hijinks, eh?
The book lacked depth but the characters were okay. Linda definitely is not a thinker and I had trouble identifying with her as the main character for that reason. She seemed shallow to me but it fit with the book.
A beach read. Neither bad nor good; it is what it is.
About the audio: I would never have guessed that was Dick Hill reading. I've always thought he was a wonderful reader but this was different from anything else I've heard him read. It wasn't bad, just different.
3 stars
Friday, June 15, 2007
A Quick Review
Today's as a gray a day as I've seen in a while, but we've had so little rain I can't complain. Every smidgen helps the fields, which makes the grass grow, which means we can make hay to winter the cows.
The afternoon storms have been easy, not as severe as they could be. I hope I don't regret writing that as the day heats up!
I bought myself a new toy for my birthday - A Quickpad Pro.
It weighs 1.5 pounds and uses 4 AA batteries. The batteries are supposed to last 50 hours. It has a screen that will handle about 16 lines of type.
It is monochrome with no backlight. The lack of a backlight is probably it's biggest failure.
I am using it at meetings. As I get older, my handwriting, already crimped and nearly illegible, has worsened. I was afraid I'd miss things in my notebook simply because I couldn't read it.
I type very quickly (my last test was 90 words a minute), so I thought this would work. I have a old laptop but its battery won't hold out for an entire meeting and it's difficult to find electrical outlets in some of the places I must go for meetings.
The Quickpad is working well for this. I save my entries on a compact flash disk and since my computer has a compact flash drive in it, I just insert, and the document pops up in Notepad. Copy and paste it into MS Word and there you go. My notes of the meeting right in front of me. No retyping, no squinting trying to make out the words.
I suspect it makes me look rather nerdy - using this little thing instead of a laptop - but I like it so I guess that's all that matters.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
Give Me Five
1. What were you doing 5 years ago?
2002. Pretty much the same thing I am now, except for a different newspaper but with the same company.
2. Name five snacks you enjoy: Chocolate bar, Baked chips, Grapes/raisins, Popcorn, Fig Newtons
3. Name five songs you know the lyrics to: Leavin' on a Jet Plane, I Can't Help (Falling in Love With You), I Will Survive, Peaceful Easy Feelin', The Rose
4. Name five things you would do if you were a multi-millionaire: pay the bills, buy the family farm for my husband, build a public library, put my grandmother in a better nursing home, invest for my retirement.
5. Name five bad habits: biting my nails, overeating, grinding my teeth, allowing clutter to build up, procrastinating.
6. Name five things you like to do: read, blog, write articles, garden, have lunch with friends.
7. Five things you would never wear again: my wedding dress, because it burned in a fire; any long party dress; blue eye shadow; clogs; capri pants.
8. Five favorite toys: my new Quickpad, my camera, my desktop computer, my Gameboy, my husband.
9. Five favorite days of the year: June 8, November 18, December 25, Saturdays and Sundays.
10. Five favorite veggies: cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, peas.
11. Five ways to say "I love you": I love you. Yo te amo. Hey man, is everything okay? You're my very best friend. I'm really glad I know you.
12. Five things you've read recently: The Writer magazine, The Roanoke Times, The Fincastle Herald, Ms. Elenaeous blog, Roanoke Firefighter's blog.
13. Five TV shows you've recently watched: um, I've watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer every morning while I exercise and I watch the 6 p.m. local news. That's about it.
Taken from Dayngrous Discourse and mangled.
1. What were you doing 5 years ago?
2002. Pretty much the same thing I am now, except for a different newspaper but with the same company.
2. Name five snacks you enjoy: Chocolate bar, Baked chips, Grapes/raisins, Popcorn, Fig Newtons
3. Name five songs you know the lyrics to: Leavin' on a Jet Plane, I Can't Help (Falling in Love With You), I Will Survive, Peaceful Easy Feelin', The Rose
4. Name five things you would do if you were a multi-millionaire: pay the bills, buy the family farm for my husband, build a public library, put my grandmother in a better nursing home, invest for my retirement.
5. Name five bad habits: biting my nails, overeating, grinding my teeth, allowing clutter to build up, procrastinating.
6. Name five things you like to do: read, blog, write articles, garden, have lunch with friends.
7. Five things you would never wear again: my wedding dress, because it burned in a fire; any long party dress; blue eye shadow; clogs; capri pants.
8. Five favorite toys: my new Quickpad, my camera, my desktop computer, my Gameboy, my husband.
9. Five favorite days of the year: June 8, November 18, December 25, Saturdays and Sundays.
10. Five favorite veggies: cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, peas.
11. Five ways to say "I love you": I love you. Yo te amo. Hey man, is everything okay? You're my very best friend. I'm really glad I know you.
12. Five things you've read recently: The Writer magazine, The Roanoke Times, The Fincastle Herald, Ms. Elenaeous blog, Roanoke Firefighter's blog.
13. Five TV shows you've recently watched: um, I've watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer every morning while I exercise and I watch the 6 p.m. local news. That's about it.
Taken from Dayngrous Discourse and mangled.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A little lightning
Last night the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed.
Ka-boom! Pow. Zap.
The rain fell and we were grateful. "The millet seed will come up now," said husband happily.
The storm passed and the heavens still watered our fields. The TV, computer - all things electronic - were dead because we had them unplugged.
Wonder of wonders, we chatted for a bit about our day, our vacation plans, and the things we'd missed out in the hustle of the last hectic six months.
The world was rather quiet and I asked husband if he thought it might be OK if I played my guitar. That would be my electric Les Paul guitar.
"I don't hear it thundering," he said. He sat back in the recliner, eyes closed, listening while I spent far too much time tuning.
I played some very ancient songs - Help Me Make It Through the Night, and Leaving On A Jet Plane.
Next up was The Eagles and a bad rendition of Lyin' Eyes. I was strumming along and getting ready to switch from a "C" chord to an "A minor" and ...
Bzaapp.
The amplifier buzzed and had I not had on a guitar strap, I would have dropped my instrument. The electricity ran through the amplifier and into the guitar, where it transferred into my hands.
My left hand, with all four fingers on the strings, took the brunt of the tingling. I immediately unplugged the guitar from the amplifier and set the instrument in its stand. My husband looked up.
"There goes your amplifier," he said mildly, not realizing I'd been shocked. "The storm's back. You'd better unplug it."
It was at that point, as I sat there unmoving, trying to shake the feeling back into my hand, that he realized I'd had a jolt.
I finally got the amplifier unplugged, and not long after we went to bed. My hand, except for my thumb, had stopped tingling by the time I fell asleep, and my thumb was fine this morning.
Let that be a lesson, though - no electric guitar in the thunderstorm.
Ka-boom! Pow. Zap.
The rain fell and we were grateful. "The millet seed will come up now," said husband happily.
The storm passed and the heavens still watered our fields. The TV, computer - all things electronic - were dead because we had them unplugged.
Wonder of wonders, we chatted for a bit about our day, our vacation plans, and the things we'd missed out in the hustle of the last hectic six months.
The world was rather quiet and I asked husband if he thought it might be OK if I played my guitar. That would be my electric Les Paul guitar.
"I don't hear it thundering," he said. He sat back in the recliner, eyes closed, listening while I spent far too much time tuning.
I played some very ancient songs - Help Me Make It Through the Night, and Leaving On A Jet Plane.
Next up was The Eagles and a bad rendition of Lyin' Eyes. I was strumming along and getting ready to switch from a "C" chord to an "A minor" and ...
Bzaapp.
The amplifier buzzed and had I not had on a guitar strap, I would have dropped my instrument. The electricity ran through the amplifier and into the guitar, where it transferred into my hands.
My left hand, with all four fingers on the strings, took the brunt of the tingling. I immediately unplugged the guitar from the amplifier and set the instrument in its stand. My husband looked up.
"There goes your amplifier," he said mildly, not realizing I'd been shocked. "The storm's back. You'd better unplug it."
It was at that point, as I sat there unmoving, trying to shake the feeling back into my hand, that he realized I'd had a jolt.
I finally got the amplifier unplugged, and not long after we went to bed. My hand, except for my thumb, had stopped tingling by the time I fell asleep, and my thumb was fine this morning.
Let that be a lesson, though - no electric guitar in the thunderstorm.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Movies: Shrek the Third
Shrek the Third
Now playing in a theater near you
We love Shrek around our house. We have sat and watched the first two Shreks numerous times.
I am sorry to say I doubt we watch the third one over and over, unless it turns out to be one of those movies that gets better on second viewing.
This Shrek was a little darker with few laughs. My husband can generally find a laugh in something long before me, but even he was disappointed in this film.
"They made one too many Shreks," he commented as the closing titles came on the screen.
The magic was missing in this film. Instead of feeling fresh and original, this seemed trite and tired. For me, from the beginning there was a plot hole big enough to drive a tractor trailer through and I had difficulty getting past that. The king was dying; the queen still lived. His daughter lived. And Shrek was named king, didn't want to be and set off in search of Arthur ... why?
Merlin made an appearance as a hippie, and could have been a wonderful character but wasn't. I felt like there were many missed opportunities in this movie and I'm rather sorry about it.
I was perfectly willing to enjoy it, and it wasn't bad but it certainly didn't blow me away.
2.5 stars
Now playing in a theater near you
We love Shrek around our house. We have sat and watched the first two Shreks numerous times.
I am sorry to say I doubt we watch the third one over and over, unless it turns out to be one of those movies that gets better on second viewing.
This Shrek was a little darker with few laughs. My husband can generally find a laugh in something long before me, but even he was disappointed in this film.
"They made one too many Shreks," he commented as the closing titles came on the screen.
The magic was missing in this film. Instead of feeling fresh and original, this seemed trite and tired. For me, from the beginning there was a plot hole big enough to drive a tractor trailer through and I had difficulty getting past that. The king was dying; the queen still lived. His daughter lived. And Shrek was named king, didn't want to be and set off in search of Arthur ... why?
Merlin made an appearance as a hippie, and could have been a wonderful character but wasn't. I felt like there were many missed opportunities in this movie and I'm rather sorry about it.
I was perfectly willing to enjoy it, and it wasn't bad but it certainly didn't blow me away.
2.5 stars
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Salt and Common Sense
Yesterday I visited my grandmother in the nursing home. It has been sad to watch her decline over the last 8 months. She's gone from being able to carry on an intelligent conversation to talking to herself and not knowing her family. She is completely bedridden and cannot even feed herself.
Her birthday is tomorrow; she will be 84. So my aunt, her son, his wife, their baby daughter, and myself, showed up for a little birthday party.
I am not sure Grandma knew what was going on.
During our festivities, an aid came in with Grandma's lunch. This was late - like 2 p.m. - we thought she'd already eaten, actually, when we all arrived, because it was well past lunch.
The aid settled in to feed Grandma, but prior to that, my cousin's wife witnessed her dumping two packets of salt on Grandma's food, and said something to me about it afterward. Grandma is full of fluid and diabetic, and she didn't need the excess salt. I wish I had been witness to it but I was talking to the baby.
Grandma had complained earlier when I gave her some water that everything tasted salty. No wonder she is tasting salt, if they are dumping salt all over her food.
Common sense would tell you not to salt her food if she's full of fluid and has heart trouble. Or so I would think.
I am on a low sodium diet myself; it is not that difficult to follow. But I have noticed that these nursing homes and hospitals do not value nutrition as part of their health care. It is something they have to do and not part of health management.
They are missing out on the most essential aspect of health care. What you eat can make a big difference in how you feel.
Her birthday is tomorrow; she will be 84. So my aunt, her son, his wife, their baby daughter, and myself, showed up for a little birthday party.
I am not sure Grandma knew what was going on.
During our festivities, an aid came in with Grandma's lunch. This was late - like 2 p.m. - we thought she'd already eaten, actually, when we all arrived, because it was well past lunch.
The aid settled in to feed Grandma, but prior to that, my cousin's wife witnessed her dumping two packets of salt on Grandma's food, and said something to me about it afterward. Grandma is full of fluid and diabetic, and she didn't need the excess salt. I wish I had been witness to it but I was talking to the baby.
Grandma had complained earlier when I gave her some water that everything tasted salty. No wonder she is tasting salt, if they are dumping salt all over her food.
Common sense would tell you not to salt her food if she's full of fluid and has heart trouble. Or so I would think.
I am on a low sodium diet myself; it is not that difficult to follow. But I have noticed that these nursing homes and hospitals do not value nutrition as part of their health care. It is something they have to do and not part of health management.
They are missing out on the most essential aspect of health care. What you eat can make a big difference in how you feel.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Books: The Secret
The Secret
By Rhonda Byrne
2006
200 pages
If I were to memorize parts of this book, then go see a competent doctor or therapist and recite those parts, I am pretty sure I would walk away with a DSM IV diagnosis.
Something along the lines of "narcissism with magical thinking." And major ego problems.
Normally I would not spend much time on a book review when I will never recommend the book to a single person, but this is a dangerous philosophy.
This book could undermine society in favor of such total individualism that we all may as well simply crawl up in our homes and point guns at one another because YOU are obviously thinking improper thoughts. I am Number One and MY wants are paramount and to hell with you.
One of the best reviews of this book is available at the Chicago Reader. Don't just take my word for it. You can also check out the reviews at Amazon.com and see that I'm not alone in raising eyebrows at this gibberish.
I don't have a problem with promoting positive thinking. Sure, reframe your thought process and your internal chatter so that you're being positive and thinking happy. Yes, it does work, I do it myself.
And certainly there does seem to be a "law of attraction," of like attracting like, in many instances. But that is only one of the things at play in the world, it isn't the whole darned way things work.
This book goes way beyond the law of attraction and positive thinking. In an airplane crash, or a hurricane? You brought it on yourself by thinking improperly. You weren't being positive enough and the Universe sent you exactly what you were wishing for. So sayth the book, anyway.
It doesn't address things like birth defects. I suppose those come about from improper thinking in utero.
Molested in childhood? Alcoholic parent? Get over it, think about getting rich instead! I'll say one thing, consumerism certainly found an advocate when the pen went to the paper in this missive.
Essentially, bad things happen to you because you ask for it. If you want, you can wish and believe you will get everything you need or want by tomorrow, including health so good you never age and millions of dollars. If it doesn't happen, why, then you just didn't think about it right. Or maybe you didn't believe strongly enough or word your request properly.
The Universe will provide. This is like a religion except that it doesn't say God, it says Universe. And there's weird stuff, like, Jesus was very wealthy (monetarily was the way I took that) along with other popular historical figures who are normally associated with good works.
This book also advocates ignorance. Don't read the papers; you don't know what is going on around you. Those are bad vibes and you don't want that.
And if your husband is fat and you don't want to be fat, dump him immediately. And if your best friend is ill, get rid of her too, because that's a downer.
This is a very sick book. It makes it easy for governments to do away with welfare, for instance. Down on your luck? You're thinking wrong! It's all your fault.
You won't get any of my tax dollars because I, righteous soul that I am, am thinking properly!
Talk about blaming the victim. Sheesh.
This book keys in on the hopes and dreams of a land of desperate people. A land where everybody wants to be a millionaire and have no responsibility to their fellow man. Yeah, that's us alright.
Perhaps The Secret really is that if you are ready to do anything, no matter how atrocious, you'll be rewarded. And so long as you're thinking these good and proper thoughts, you're blameless. (As in, hypothetically, I want a million dollars, so I buy an insurance policy and off my spouse - I get what I want, so there should be no consequences).
There is some truth to this book - the positive thoughts part, anyway - and some of it is charming. But the deeper message is so scary that I plan to get my copy out of my house as soon as I can.
No stars
By Rhonda Byrne
2006
200 pages
If I were to memorize parts of this book, then go see a competent doctor or therapist and recite those parts, I am pretty sure I would walk away with a DSM IV diagnosis.
Something along the lines of "narcissism with magical thinking." And major ego problems.
Normally I would not spend much time on a book review when I will never recommend the book to a single person, but this is a dangerous philosophy.
This book could undermine society in favor of such total individualism that we all may as well simply crawl up in our homes and point guns at one another because YOU are obviously thinking improper thoughts. I am Number One and MY wants are paramount and to hell with you.
One of the best reviews of this book is available at the Chicago Reader. Don't just take my word for it. You can also check out the reviews at Amazon.com and see that I'm not alone in raising eyebrows at this gibberish.
I don't have a problem with promoting positive thinking. Sure, reframe your thought process and your internal chatter so that you're being positive and thinking happy. Yes, it does work, I do it myself.
And certainly there does seem to be a "law of attraction," of like attracting like, in many instances. But that is only one of the things at play in the world, it isn't the whole darned way things work.
This book goes way beyond the law of attraction and positive thinking. In an airplane crash, or a hurricane? You brought it on yourself by thinking improperly. You weren't being positive enough and the Universe sent you exactly what you were wishing for. So sayth the book, anyway.
It doesn't address things like birth defects. I suppose those come about from improper thinking in utero.
Molested in childhood? Alcoholic parent? Get over it, think about getting rich instead! I'll say one thing, consumerism certainly found an advocate when the pen went to the paper in this missive.
Essentially, bad things happen to you because you ask for it. If you want, you can wish and believe you will get everything you need or want by tomorrow, including health so good you never age and millions of dollars. If it doesn't happen, why, then you just didn't think about it right. Or maybe you didn't believe strongly enough or word your request properly.
The Universe will provide. This is like a religion except that it doesn't say God, it says Universe. And there's weird stuff, like, Jesus was very wealthy (monetarily was the way I took that) along with other popular historical figures who are normally associated with good works.
This book also advocates ignorance. Don't read the papers; you don't know what is going on around you. Those are bad vibes and you don't want that.
And if your husband is fat and you don't want to be fat, dump him immediately. And if your best friend is ill, get rid of her too, because that's a downer.
This is a very sick book. It makes it easy for governments to do away with welfare, for instance. Down on your luck? You're thinking wrong! It's all your fault.
You won't get any of my tax dollars because I, righteous soul that I am, am thinking properly!
Talk about blaming the victim. Sheesh.
This book keys in on the hopes and dreams of a land of desperate people. A land where everybody wants to be a millionaire and have no responsibility to their fellow man. Yeah, that's us alright.
Perhaps The Secret really is that if you are ready to do anything, no matter how atrocious, you'll be rewarded. And so long as you're thinking these good and proper thoughts, you're blameless. (As in, hypothetically, I want a million dollars, so I buy an insurance policy and off my spouse - I get what I want, so there should be no consequences).
There is some truth to this book - the positive thoughts part, anyway - and some of it is charming. But the deeper message is so scary that I plan to get my copy out of my house as soon as I can.
No stars
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
1. My husband arrived home from work this morning (he spends the night at the firestation) and said he had helpers coming to assist with the hay-making. I need to feed them all lunch. I had no bread, because we try not to eat bread as a weight-watching strategy.
2. I had to make an emergency run to the grocer for bread, sandwich meats, and cookies. You can't make hay in the rain or on an empty stomach.
3. There is an organization called bread.org that seeks to end hunger.
4. Bread is also the name of a 1970s band that I liked when I was a child. They had a mellow sound and if I hear them today (which happens infrequently) I immediately go back to my pre-teen days.
5. During the holidays I sometimes make bread from frozen bread dough.
6. I have made bread by hand a few times but the frozen bread dough is a lot easier.
7. I grew up eating white bread. Rainbow Bread was the favorite brand. Not the Rainbow Bread that has swirly colors, (which until I looked up Rainbow bread on the internet moments ago I did not know existed) but plain white bread in a rainbow-colored wrapper. I believe it was made locally and I don't think it is available anymore.
8. After we married, my husband and I ate generic white bread. Store brand, etc. It cost about 50 cents a loaf.
9. Today I bought Nature's Own wheat bread and paid $2.69 for each loaf.
10. We stopped eating bread all the time in 2005, when my husband went on the Atkin's Diet. I have since found out I don't tolerate wheat well, so it's just not a commodity we use.
11. I buy only four or five loaves of bread a year now, as opposed to the one every 10 days that we once ate.
12. Rice bread is no substitute for wheat bread. I tried it and unfortunately it was a lot like trying to eat a piece of pig iron.
13. My husband's favorite non-sandwich bread is zucchini bread. If we have an abundance of zucchini from the garden, I will make him some as a special treat. Go zucchini!
2. I had to make an emergency run to the grocer for bread, sandwich meats, and cookies. You can't make hay in the rain or on an empty stomach.
3. There is an organization called bread.org that seeks to end hunger.
4. Bread is also the name of a 1970s band that I liked when I was a child. They had a mellow sound and if I hear them today (which happens infrequently) I immediately go back to my pre-teen days.
5. During the holidays I sometimes make bread from frozen bread dough.
6. I have made bread by hand a few times but the frozen bread dough is a lot easier.
7. I grew up eating white bread. Rainbow Bread was the favorite brand. Not the Rainbow Bread that has swirly colors, (which until I looked up Rainbow bread on the internet moments ago I did not know existed) but plain white bread in a rainbow-colored wrapper. I believe it was made locally and I don't think it is available anymore.
8. After we married, my husband and I ate generic white bread. Store brand, etc. It cost about 50 cents a loaf.
9. Today I bought Nature's Own wheat bread and paid $2.69 for each loaf.
10. We stopped eating bread all the time in 2005, when my husband went on the Atkin's Diet. I have since found out I don't tolerate wheat well, so it's just not a commodity we use.
11. I buy only four or five loaves of bread a year now, as opposed to the one every 10 days that we once ate.
12. Rice bread is no substitute for wheat bread. I tried it and unfortunately it was a lot like trying to eat a piece of pig iron.
13. My husband's favorite non-sandwich bread is zucchini bread. If we have an abundance of zucchini from the garden, I will make him some as a special treat. Go zucchini!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Dona Nobis Pacem - Praying for Peace
Sixty-three years ago, Operation Overlord took place. The Battle of Normandy began as Allied troops hit the beaches of Normandy, France hoping to allay the evil of Hitler's regime.
Now, with the members of that generation dying and giving way to the younger set, the lessons learned in the 20th century apparently need to be taught all over again.
The world is fraught with war, turmoil, personal indignities, violence, hatred, racism, hunger, poverty, and such a multitude of evils that one can scarcely recount them all.
Peace means more than just dropping guns. It means loving one another, caring for one another, and working together as a society to cure the injustices of the world. It means realizing the importance of each individual, each mind, each heart and extending hands in hopes of healing and comforting.
These days such efforts seem far and few between. This is a time of celebrity culture, when headlines are made by spoiled brats entering jail cells, not children being beaten or starved. How easy it is to forget things are not right in everyone's world when you're doing okay and ignoring the important stories on the inside of the newspapers.
My hope is that everyone stops for just a brief moment today and looks around. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for what you have and offer a prayer of help for the person you know who needs it most. Maybe today is the day we all reach out a hand and offer that healing touch.
Wake up, world! Pray for Peace.
*****
The Peace Globe movement was started by Mimi at Mimiwrites. It's an effort to remind everyone that each person can make a difference in the world. Visit her website so you can make your own Peace Globe and join us in making life better for all.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
The smell of money
Manure. That’s the smell of money for farmers, but residents living next door sometimes don’t find it very pleasing.
The local zoning offices often receive complaints from folks living near farms who don’t want to deal with the smell of manure fertilizers. Since I cover local governments, I hear about this.
Farmers spread manure for a variety of reasons. Dairy farmers in particular need to get it out of the barn so they can go about their daily business of making sure Bossy donates her milk so you can have your cereal.
Government regulations governing milk production require frequent manure collection by dairy farmers.
The manure makes the fields flush with green. This natural fertilizer makes the topsoil better so grass can grow.
The cows then eat the grass. It’s a nice cycle.
Spreading manure saves money for farmers. Basically manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. According to one website, spreading animal waste saves a farmer about $45 an acre.
On a large farm, that’s quite a savings.
Environmental concerns do crop up with manure spreading, but a 2000 study found that most nonfarm neighbors are not worried about that. It’s the odors that spark the phone calls to county officials.
Zoning officials seldom receives calls about pollution, but people call every spring about odor.
Farmers do not fall under state law for spreading manure until their herd reaches a certain capacity – 300 head of livestock or 20,000 chickens, for example. Farmers also can, and many do, participate in the state's Best Management Practices, which has guidelines for manure spreading.
The state advocates putting manure down in the spring, not winter, so the ground can absorb the nutrients. Manure contains bacteria and chemicals that can enter the water supply, so it a spring application is desirable. That’s because manure that’s put down on frozen ground is more likely to run off instead of sinking into the soil.
Generally speaking, farmers try not to apply manure during bad weather.
The local zoning offices often receive complaints from folks living near farms who don’t want to deal with the smell of manure fertilizers. Since I cover local governments, I hear about this.
Farmers spread manure for a variety of reasons. Dairy farmers in particular need to get it out of the barn so they can go about their daily business of making sure Bossy donates her milk so you can have your cereal.
Government regulations governing milk production require frequent manure collection by dairy farmers.
The manure makes the fields flush with green. This natural fertilizer makes the topsoil better so grass can grow.
The cows then eat the grass. It’s a nice cycle.
Spreading manure saves money for farmers. Basically manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. According to one website, spreading animal waste saves a farmer about $45 an acre.
On a large farm, that’s quite a savings.
Environmental concerns do crop up with manure spreading, but a 2000 study found that most nonfarm neighbors are not worried about that. It’s the odors that spark the phone calls to county officials.
Zoning officials seldom receives calls about pollution, but people call every spring about odor.
Farmers do not fall under state law for spreading manure until their herd reaches a certain capacity – 300 head of livestock or 20,000 chickens, for example. Farmers also can, and many do, participate in the state's Best Management Practices, which has guidelines for manure spreading.
The state advocates putting manure down in the spring, not winter, so the ground can absorb the nutrients. Manure contains bacteria and chemicals that can enter the water supply, so it a spring application is desirable. That’s because manure that’s put down on frozen ground is more likely to run off instead of sinking into the soil.
Generally speaking, farmers try not to apply manure during bad weather.
Farmers have a lot to do when the weather warms; the fields and cows don’t take care of themselves. As the weather warms, farmers gear up for the season by applying herbicides and pesticides.
Herbicides might be used to kill an entire field so a new crop can be planted. Pesticides are necessary to keep the bugs away. Farmers are either licensed to apply these chemicals, or they hire someone to do it for them.
With longer days there are crops to cut, such as winter rye, which is used for feed and straw. Ground is plowed and reseeded or seeded with a no-till drill that puts the seed in the ground without turning over the dirt.
Farmers spread other things besides manure, including man-made fertilizers and lime. These items can emit odors, too, that nonfarm residents might not find pleasant.
Orchard growers are caring for their trees, pruning and spraying for bugs, depending on what the trees need. Cows are calving, chickens are laying eggs, roosters are crowing.
It’s a noisy and sometimes smelly world on a farm.
Ain't it grand?
(Note: a little different version of this appeared in The Fincastle Herald and online at ourvalley.org).
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Junebugs in Summer
So my husband and I have birthdays this month. His was yesterday.
He spent the day in a seminar at Greenfield. That wasn't fun. I gave him a pair of sneakers and an electric razor. He had just purchased a new tractor and a new cellphone for himself.
We haven't seen each other much since December. First there was the rental property renovations - my mother left me an old house and we had to fix it up after the people who were originally renting from her left it trashed when they moved last fall. My husband spent every spare hour working on that place.
Just as things were settling down, my father-in-law became ill, and my husband's spare time went into running the farm and his father's business, both by himself. My husband is also a professional firefighter, so he's been gone right much.
Add to that the fact that his parents have been needing almost constant attention, a lot of which which is coming from us, and most of that from my husband.
On top of that, I've been busy and am out a lot at nights attending meetings and things for my work. So we've been like two junebugs buzzing around the same rose, never landing long enough to rub feet.
Today was to be our day. We were going to do our darndest to be together and go to the movies.
The phone rang at 8:30 a.m.; the hot water heater in the rental property went phtts. Husband has been over there ever since (it's after 1 p.m. now) and it looks like an afternoon at the movies just ain't gonna happen.
The junebugs continue their dance.
He spent the day in a seminar at Greenfield. That wasn't fun. I gave him a pair of sneakers and an electric razor. He had just purchased a new tractor and a new cellphone for himself.
We haven't seen each other much since December. First there was the rental property renovations - my mother left me an old house and we had to fix it up after the people who were originally renting from her left it trashed when they moved last fall. My husband spent every spare hour working on that place.
Just as things were settling down, my father-in-law became ill, and my husband's spare time went into running the farm and his father's business, both by himself. My husband is also a professional firefighter, so he's been gone right much.
Add to that the fact that his parents have been needing almost constant attention, a lot of which which is coming from us, and most of that from my husband.
On top of that, I've been busy and am out a lot at nights attending meetings and things for my work. So we've been like two junebugs buzzing around the same rose, never landing long enough to rub feet.
Today was to be our day. We were going to do our darndest to be together and go to the movies.
The phone rang at 8:30 a.m.; the hot water heater in the rental property went phtts. Husband has been over there ever since (it's after 1 p.m. now) and it looks like an afternoon at the movies just ain't gonna happen.
The junebugs continue their dance.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Books: Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
Audiobook
Magic Hour
By Kristin Hannah
2006
Read by Suzanne Toren
A defamed psychiatrist, Julia Cates, is called upon by her sister, Ellie, who was the homecoming queen and is now chief of police, to help with an abandoned child. "Alice," as they come to call the girl, seems to have been raised by wolves.
Cates is suffering from self-esteem problems because she failed to stop a client/patient from committing murder and mayhem. She was put on trial and found innocent but tried in the press. Now she has to save this little girl.
Ellie is pretty self-centered but she's redeemable.
Max is a local doctor who has traumas of his own, but he works with Julia and ultimately falls for her as they try to get the little wolf girl civilized.
There is a happy ending.
I thought I would not like this book at first, but I eventually found myself quite engrossed in the story. I was listless about the romance, but Julia's relationship with "Alice" was worth the time I spent listening to this in the car.
This is the second Hannah book I've read (or listened to); the first was Between Sisters.
3 stars
Magic Hour
By Kristin Hannah
2006
Read by Suzanne Toren
A defamed psychiatrist, Julia Cates, is called upon by her sister, Ellie, who was the homecoming queen and is now chief of police, to help with an abandoned child. "Alice," as they come to call the girl, seems to have been raised by wolves.
Cates is suffering from self-esteem problems because she failed to stop a client/patient from committing murder and mayhem. She was put on trial and found innocent but tried in the press. Now she has to save this little girl.
Ellie is pretty self-centered but she's redeemable.
Max is a local doctor who has traumas of his own, but he works with Julia and ultimately falls for her as they try to get the little wolf girl civilized.
There is a happy ending.
I thought I would not like this book at first, but I eventually found myself quite engrossed in the story. I was listless about the romance, but Julia's relationship with "Alice" was worth the time I spent listening to this in the car.
This is the second Hannah book I've read (or listened to); the first was Between Sisters.
3 stars
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