Thursday Thirteen #500

Here it is, the big number 500 in my Thursday Thirteen posts. This means I have been doing this consecutively for 500 weeks, or 9.6 years. That is a long time. I've had jobs and friendships last less longer than that.

To celebrate this auspicious occasion (which is auspicious for only me, I know), I thought about going back and pulling up my favorite Thursday Thirteens. But I don't have any real favorites and I didn't particularly want to read through them all.

So I randomly went through and picked about every 38th entry and pulled something from it. No rhyme nor rhythm here. Just some things that have appeared in this blog in the last 9 years.

I wish it were a better entry, but I haven't been feeling well and it is hard to think sometimes when that happens.

1.

My stuffed dog showing off my sleeping arrangements.

2.

Just a nice shot.

3.  Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand -- and melting like a snowflake. -Marie Beyon Ray

4.

Pappa Buck and Bambi

 

5. My allergies, while not great, are not as bad as they could be, and I am thankful for that. At least this year I have not been bedridden with them. (Apparently something noteworthy several years ago.)

 

6.  I often imagine myself as the heroine of a fantasy, fighting dragons with magic. I would love to be able to toss a lightning bolt at somebody, just every now and then.

 

7.

 

A local event, with a notice about the Botetourt Courthouse Fire.

 

8.

Honey Bees

9.

Trillium

10. It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped. - Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) (American politician)


11. Santillane is a historic home located just outside of Fincastle. It was constructed around 1835. The family who originally owned it was the Hancocks, and daughter Julia married William Clark (of Lewis & Clark fame).



 

12.

 

 

 

 

13. A friend told me earlier in the week that when she first met me, she thought I was a normal, boring person. Then I said something (she didn't remember what) and she knew that she was in the company of someone who did not follow the rules and who marched to a beat of her own making. I took it as a compliment.

 

__________

 

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 500th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.



When the Colds Won't Go

I am on my second round of sinus stuff. I was quite sick at the first of April, then last week I was back at the doctor yet again with a severe ear infection and sinus drainage. She gave me a Z-pak, which is a 5-day antibiotic.

Within 24 hours of taking the last pill, though, the sore throat, stuffy ears, and headache have returned. I have sent my doctor a note asking her if I should wait it out or does she have another suggestion. (*Update: she said to wait it out, but rest.)

I prefer not to take antibiotics but sometimes I need more than a single Z-pak to rid my body of an infection. I have a poor immune system and bad bugs seem to love it. But I also know that taking antibiotics has risks.

These days my concerns are not only with the actual medicines, but with the generics that are forced upon us by the insurance companies. My recent Z-pak was a generic one. Does it work as well as the name brand? Perhaps not. Maybe that is why my throat hurts again.

One drug I take regularly smells hideous, like sulfur, but it is not a sulfur drug. The brand-name drug does not have this odor.

Not only that, whenever the pharmacy decides it will save $0.0001 cents if it changes brands, the medication change frequently does not work as well for me. When this is a drug for blood pressure, that can be problematic.

One of my medications, Synthroid, which I know thousands of people take for thyroid issues, does not work at all for me if I take a generic, so I pay more for the brand name. A drug that has been around for 30 years and which used to cost me $2 or so now costs me $35 a month. There is no reason for that drug to cost that much.

About 45 days ago, I picked up a 60-pill bottle of Loratadine, (generic over-the-counter Claritin) where I have been purchasing it for years, and noticed that the pills are no longer round. They are oval. I have no idea if these are made by a different company because the generic is under a store name. My guess is they are. I also am wondering if my recent spat of sinus infections is a result of having a generic antihistamine that isn't working as well as it once did because the drug manufacturer has changed and the drug is not the same.

This used to not be a problem. There was a time in this country when we trusted that the FDA was taking care of us and that if a drug was on the market, it had been tested and found to be safe. We assumed generics were created equally. They still tell us they are, but doctors who are paying attention know better. Pharmacists and their assistants know better. They will tell you so but they don't know what to do about it.

This is not a recent development, so don't blame the ACA. This began in 1992 with the implementation of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), which was created by Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. It authorizes the FDA to collect fees from companies that produce certain human drug and biological products. Since the passage of PDUFA, user fees have played an important role in expediting the drug approval process.

That means that the drug companies are paying the FDA to approve their drugs. Does that make sense? It doesn't make sense to me. That is like taking a whole bag of dog food out to your dog and expecting it to eat only a meal-sized portion each day instead of the entire bag.

PDUFA must be reauthorized every five years. It was renewed in 1997 (PDUFA II), 2002 (PDUFA III), 2007 (PDUFA IV), and 2012 (PDUFA V). On July 9, 2012, President Barrack Obama signed into law the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), which includes the reauthorization of PDUFA through September 2017. The FDASIA is basically a stipulation allowing the FDA to collect more authorized fees.

I want to trust that the drugs I take are good. I don't. I want to be healthy and I take steps to make that happen, but I am not getting healthy. Not only is the drug industry suspect, but so is the food industry. I grew up eating things that most likely have set me up for metabolic syndrome. This is no one's fault; who knew that a TV dinner full of sodium and sugar would cause problems 30 years later? But my eating habits are not the best, mostly because I dislike cooking, and try as I might I find I cannot stay away from the chocolate and sugar. They are like an addiction to me, and I suspect they probably are.

All of which is a long way of saying I have become a jaded consumer. I trust, I verify, and then swallow with great hesitation.


Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/UserFees/PrescriptionDrugUserFee/default.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration_Safety_and_Innovation_Act (Yes, I know, Wikipedia is not a good source but this blog entry isn't being paid for, it is my opinion.)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/prescription/etc/links.html#pdufa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_Drug_User_Fee_Act

Rated M for Mature

In today's paper, the "Dear Annie" column had a letter from a mother who was allowing her 5-year-old child to play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on a PlayStation 4.

I play Skyrim. It is rated M for mature. It is not a game for a 5-year-old child.

Read the labels, people.

The mother said the son had mastered the "dragon language" in the game and would only speak that. The dragon language is basically a set of kill commands - in the game they call them dragon shouts. The words allow the hero of the game to kill dragons and people with only the voice.

The kid also runs around swatting people with flyswatters or whatever he is using for a sword. She said when she took the game away once, the kid went outside and tried to call down the dragons from the sky.

Skyrim is an incredibly immersive game. I have logged over 1,000 hours playing it over the last five years or so. I have 80 hours on the new release that has updated graphics. I love the game and I enjoy it immensely.

However, no child should play this game. A 5-year-old should be playing LEGOLAND or something. Not Skyrim. It is rated M for a reason.

What is wrong with people? I swear, I think the Earth flew through an asteroid belt and it has infected the minds of half of the population of the world.

Stupidity is not good. Ignorance is not bliss. Stop drinking the tainted water, folks.

I sent a response to Dear Annie. This is what I wrote:

Dear Annie,

I read with horror the letter from the mother who is letting a 5-year-old play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. That game is for mature audiences and no one under 13 should be playing it.

The dragon language the child is learning are commands that harm or kill, not actual conversation. This game is quite immersive and is full of killing with swords, magic, and words (the dragon language). It is not a game for children.

I am not your average gamer. I am a 53-year-old wife and freelance writer. However, I have logged over 1,000 hours on Skyrim over the last five years, and frankly consider it an addictive game. I set an hour timer when I play because otherwise I lose track of time and am there for five hours instead of one. Skyrim is a great game for adults who know how to control their time and game-playing, but I would never let a child watch me play it, let alone take over the controls and spew the guts of a bandit all over the cave floor.

This is beyond imaginative play. The mother needs to take that game away from that child now and under no circumstances should she return it. If she wants to let him play video games, then she should find something more age-appropriate.

People have minds. I wish they would use them.

Sunday Stealing: Getting to Know Your Friends

 Sunday Stealing: The Getting to Know Your Friends Questions

1. What is your occupation right now? How long have you been there?

A. I am a freelance writer. I have been doing it since 1993. I am not currently actively working due to a chronic pain issue.

2. Favorite rock band. Ever.

A. The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. It's a tie.

3. What are you listening to right now?

A. Sheryl Crow.

4. Last person you spoke to on the phone. What was it about?

A. My friend T. and we talked about the politics of the day, family issues, and knitting.

5. How old are you today? Or make up a question. This one bites.

A. I am old enough to know better and young enough to try it anyway.

6. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?

A. Ice skating.

7. What is your favorite drink?

A. Root beer.

8. Have you ever dyed your hair?

A. I highlighted it when I was younger but then I started having allergic reactions to whatever the hair dresser was using. It has been natural for a 20 years. Natural is now brown and white.

9. Favorite food?

A. Chocolate. That's not actually a food, but there you go.

10. What is the last movie you watched?

A. Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot with Tina Fey. It was not funny, as my husband expected. It was about a journalist in Afghanistan. The movie showed that Tina Fey can do more than crack jokes. She can also act. However, I was a little aghast to realize that Fey was snogging on Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit trilogy) when I discovered he was in the film.

11. Favorite day of the year?

A. My birthday, which is coming up in June. Actually I like the whole month of June. When I was a child it was the end of the school year, the weather was decent, and I spent time with my grandmother.

12. How do you vent anger?

A. I put it through a hose and send it outside.

13. What was your favorite toy as a child?

A. I liked action figures. My first one was a Batgirl doll (from the cheezy TV show Batman with Adam West). I was never much of a baby doll girl.

14. Living arrangements? (Of course your pets count. Geez!)

A. I am in a house with my husband. The cows are outside. We don't live with them. They have a barn.

15. What was the last thing that you cried about?

A. I secretly shed a couple of tears when my nephew graduated from college last weekend. I told my husband the wind was making my eyes water.

16. Who is the friend you have had the longest?

A. My husband followed by my friend Leslie, whom I have known since 1984.

17. What did you do last night?

A. We had soup for dinner (it was raining and cold Friday night; I'm writing this on Saturday.). I knitted on a scarf while we watched Jeopardy! and Undercover Boss. Then we watched part of the Mark Twain honors on PBS (they were honoring Bill Murray) and then we went to bed. Exciting, eh?

18. What are you most afraid of?

A. Living under an overpass and eating cat food from the garbage, in my personal realm. At the moment I fear for the sanity of the world, overall.

19. In how many areas of your country have you lived? What's your favorite?

A. I have only lived within a 30-mile radius of where I am now. Where I am is my favorite.

20. What is your favorite flower? (Ugh. Quite the note to go out on. But hell, we steal the questions. I guess you get what you pay for.)

A. Iris.

Saturday 9: Mama Can't Buy You Love

Mama Can't Buy You Love (1979)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This week's artist, Elton John, was made an Office of Arts and Letters -- one of France's highest honors for people who have contributed significantly to the arts. What's the most recent compliment you received?

A. I was told the scarf I knitted (my second ever) looked nice. You can see a photo of it here. I still haven't learned how to purl.

2) In 2013, Elton had to cancel an international concert tour because he had an appendectomy. Do you still have your appendix?

A. Yes, damn it. They were supposed to take it out during one of my surgeries in the 1990s but for some reason did not. I thought it was gone until it showed up on a CT scan. I don't have much left in there but I still have that thing. And if it goes, I will too, because I am not going to have my belly slit open again.

3) In 1979, Elton John was the first Western rock star to tour the Soviet Union. Would you like to visit Russia?

A. It would be interesting, I am sure. I would go if I could be certain that I could get back into the U.S. The way things are going, I would worry about that no matter what country I visited. Incidentally, earlier this week I was looking at my blog stats, which I seldom check, and noticed that my second-largest readership (page views) comes from Russia. I have no idea why.

4) Elton and his mother hadn't spoken in years but he reached out to her and healed their beach in honor of her 90th birthday in 2015. Who is the oldest person you know?

A. My 97-year-old grandmother passed away just a few weeks ago. Now the oldest person I know would be in her late 80s, I think. No, wait, my former doctor is over 90 and still going to physical therapy. I see him there occasionally and he always gives me a big hug.

5) Flowers and plants are popular on Mother's Day. How is your yard or garden? Is it green and/or blooming?

A. We've been having flooding rains, so it is green and a bit overgrown. The only good thing about the rain is it is keeping the pollen at an acceptable level.

6) Mother's Day is a big holiday for card shops. So are birthdays, weddings, and St. Patrick's Day. Hallmark sells greetings for everything from "Congratulations on Your New Job" to "Happy Retirement." Who received the most recent card you bought?

A. I sent my nephew a congratulations card for his college graduation.

7) Sam's mother is very careful when she unwraps presents because she likes to save money by to reusing wrapping paper and gift bags. Tell us one way that you economize.

A. I take paper that has been printed on one side only and which otherwise would be recycled, cut it into squares, then staple the little pages together to use the clean side for scratch paper. It still finds its way into the recycling bin, just in smaller pieces and with writing on both sides.

8) Mother Winters used to scold Crazy Sam for leaving her dirty dishes in the sink. Sam admits it: as a grown up, she still leaves dirty dishes in the sink. How about you? Is your sink or dishwasher empty?

A. My sink is empty; the dirty dishes are in the dishwasher and it will run tonight after dinner. With only two of us we do not dirty up many dishes. I run the dishwasher at night, and then sometimes only on the rinse cycle so the dishes occasionally stay in the dishwasher for several days, particularly if we have been eating out for some reason.

9) RANDOM QUESTION: What size mattress do you sleep on -- twin, full, queen or king?

A. Queen. My husband is too long for a full-sized mattress; his feet hang over. The room isn't big enough for a king-sized bed.

_____________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. (#180)

Me and My Wizard

Medium: Crayola Crayon

Thursday Thirteen

Lots of folks are talking about personality disorders these days, particularly narcissistic personality disorder. (Many health officials believe #45 may have this. It is, of course, a liberal conspiracy to say that, but in my unprofessional though somewhat informed opinion, he certainly does exhibit signs.)

Another personality disorder that doesn't receive much attention, but which is really a very cruel and life and family threatening issue, is borderline personality disorder (BPD). 

I have a friend who is dealing with this personality disorder within her family at the moment, which is why it is on my mind. I think I also have a relative with it, so I have studied it some.

It is an insidious way of life in which the person with borderline personality disorder lives with a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, moods, and control over impulses.

People with this particular personality disorder are frequently misdiagnosed. Symptoms of this personality disorder are:

1. Wide mood swings.

2. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger.

3. Chronic feelings of emptiness.

4. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-harming behavior.

5. A pattern of unstable relationships.

6. Persistent unstable self-image or sense of self.

7. Fear of abandonment.

8.Periods of paranoia

9. Loss of contact with reality.

10. Uncertainty about who they are.

11. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment

12. A pattern of intense and unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones, often swinging from extreme closeness and love (idealization) to extreme dislike or anger (devaluation)

13. Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating

People with this disorder may be triggered by ordinary events that other people shrug off. For example, people with BPD may feel angry and distressed over minor separations—such as vacations, business trips, or sudden changes of plans—from people to whom they feel close. Studies show that people with this disorder may see anger in an emotionally neutral face and have a stronger reaction to words with negative meanings than people who do not have the disorder.

Some of these signs and symptoms may be experienced by people with other mental health problems—and even by people without mental illness—and do not necessarily mean that they have BPD. It is important that a qualified and licensed mental health professional conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether or not a diagnosis of BPD or other mental disorder is warranted, and to help guide treatment options when appropriate.

The causes of BPD are not yet clear, but research suggests that genetic, brain, environmental and social factors are likely to be involved. BPD is about five times more likely to occur if a person has a close family member (first-degree biological relatives) with the disorder. Many people with BPD report experiencing traumatic life events, such as abuse or abandonment during childhood. Others may have been exposed to unstable relationships and hostile conflicts. However, some people with BPD do not have a history of trauma. And, many people with a history of traumatic life events do not have BPD.

Studies show that people with BPD have structural and functional changes in the brain, especially in the areas that control impulses and emotional regulation. However, some people with similar changes in the brain do not have BPD. More research is needed to understand the relationship between brain structure and function and BPD.

Research on BPD is focused on examining biological and environmental risk factors, with special attention on whether early symptoms may emerge at a younger age than previously thought. Scientists are also studying ways to identify the disorder earlier in adolescents.

Treatment for this personality disorder is mixed with regards to effectiveness. BPD is considered to be one of the hardest disorders to treat. Treatments include psychotherapy (or “talk therapy”) is the main treatment for people with BPD, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (mindfulness), Schema-Focused Therapy (changes point of view), and other talk therapies.

Families of people with BPD may also benefit from therapy. The challenges of dealing with a loved one with BPD on a daily basis can be very stressful, and family members may unknowingly act in ways that worsen their relative's symptoms. Although more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of family therapy in BPD, studies on other mental disorders suggest that including family members can help in a person's treatment.

Some people with BPD experience severe symptoms and require intensive, often inpatient, care. Others may use some outpatient treatments but never need hospitalization or emergency care. Although in rare cases, some people who develop this disorder may improve without any treatment, most people benefit from and improve their quality of life by seeking treatment.

To help a friend or relative you can offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement—change can be difficult and frightening to people with BPD, but it is possible for them to get better over time. Also, learning about this or other mental disorders can help you understand what your friend or relative is experiencing.

Here are the other personality disorders:


There are three clusters of personality disorders: odd or eccentric disorders; dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders; and anxious or fearful disorders. Specific disorders are as follows:
•Paranoid personality disorder is a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent.

•Schizoid personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings.

•Schizotypal personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with reduced capacity for close relationships. It is also characterized by distortions of thinking and perception and eccentric behavior.

•Antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.

•Histrionic personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of excessive emotion and attention seeking.

•Narcissistic personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or actual behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

•Avoidant personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

•Dependent personality disorder is a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, which leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.

•Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

•Borderline personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, moods, and control over impulses.

Sources: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-w-whatper-toc~mental-pubs-w-whatper-typ

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml

_______

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 499th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

The Gully Washer

Last week, Thursday I think it was, we had a big rain. We received 2.5 inches overnight.

The driveway wash was the worst I believe I'd ever seen. Since our driveway is about 1/4 of a mile long, this covers a lot of ground. The water must have been rolling fast down the hill that night.

Not so bad, eh?

But wait. All of that gravel is supposed to be in the driveway, not the yard.

Oh dear. More gravel in the yard.

Look at those nice deep grooves that rattle a car.

This is the lower end of the driveway. Suddenly we have a new ditch!

That gravel under the fence belongs in our driveway.

Another new ditch.

Drop a wheel over that and I might be stuck!

Fortunately we have the equipment to fix this with. Many other folks aren't so lucky.

Knitted Another Scarf

The Nephew Graduates

My nephew, Trey, graduated from Roanoke College in Salem, VA on Saturday. He received a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science. He is off to Ohio to work in some kind of body building franchise or something like that.

We arrived a bit early; bad timing on my part. Nice campus, though.

My brother, looking a little blurry, arrives for his son's big day.

Lots of umbrellas prior to the event; it was raining, obviously.

Nice congratulatory sign.

My father and stepmother.

We saw several fellows roaming about in light blue pin striped suits. We
decided they must be a fraternity.

Mother of the graduate.

Pomp and Circumstance plays and the crowd stands.

The man of the hour marching toward the stage.

Really, Dad? (I'd handed my brother my camera.)

My niece and sister of the man of the hour.

The big poo-pahs doing their talking.

 

Graduate caps and flags.

We were a very long way from the stage.

I assume this is Roanoke College's mascot. (Not the guy in yellow, the bird thing.)

Think these two are related?

Beth Macy received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree. I went to Hollins with her and have known her for years.

Unfortunately, my shots of my nephew receiving his diploma did not turn out.

Here he is all smiles, diploma in hand.

Afterwards, with his girlfriend.

My brother's three children.