I slept pretty well last night.. AMEN. It's about time my body started doing what it's supposed to do at night..
Yesterday morning I got up 5 minutes after I should have been on the road for that same time.. on my way to work. Acckkkkkk! I'm never late and never miss the alarm clock! It was after 7:30 and I felt late. I got there 15 minutes later than usual.. and then noted my first patients weren't till 9:30am.. happy day.. I had some time.
Though I was tired, I did well and so did my patients. They are such wonderful interesting people.
I'm always weary and tired when I go home .. I drove straight home and had no clue what to have for supper... so I pulled out some chicken breasts to bake... Wendell suggested we go out to eat, but the thought of going all the way back to Butler was not on my agenda.. I needed something to eat but I wanted my bed too... We decided to hit the local airport restaurant .. the Runway.. and it was the best decision of the day. I had Raspberry grilled chicken salad with raspberry walnut sauce, and Wendell went for the grilled Reuben.. At the end of the meal we decided to have dessert, but neither of us had room for it.. so we chose one each and took it home to eat later.. Mine was black forest cake with whipped cream on top.. decadent! I love their little dessert cart they bring around so you can actually see what your dessert looks like before you order it. We love the atmosphere at the Runway too.. 3 walls of glass panes so you have the perfect view of the airport and runway.. We watched the planes take off and land while we waited for our meals.
For as small an airport as it is, it is a very busy one with planes coming in and going out one after another.
The best part is that it's only about 3 miles from our house!!
As we sat there last night, we pretty much decided that our family joint retirement dinner would be held there.. it's just the perfect place. Another great feature of this place is the elevator for those who can't do stairs. And did I mention the food is fabulous? and the service too?

It's 27 degrees this morning.. bbrrrrrr !!! I'm gainfully employed again at the hospital..it is Friday. Just 91 days to go... by Christmas day it'll be 39 days.. I looked. What a Christmas gift!
I'll be off this weekend too.. things are good.. life is grand.
The little Christmas shopping we planned to do this year is almost complete.. just a couple things to go... woohoo!! and it's not even Thanksgiving!
It's almost 8am.. as for me.. I'm heading back to bed for another hour..I'll need it later tonite.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.
But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here.
Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.
We have room for but one flag, the American flag.... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907

IT'S WENDY'S BIRTHDAY

If you see her or connect with her today..
wish her a
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!We lived at the farm.. this one was taken around Christmas
when she would have been a year old.

Here's Mandy with Wendy.. I told them NOT to get in the mud..

To be fair.. this is her graduation picture..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WENDY !

TRICK OR TREAT !
We are in the middle of Trick or Treat night here where we live.. so far,
no kids.. sigh...
Kids just don't have the time to walk back our driveway to receive a
great treat. We are always prepared.
So what do you give your little TOTers?
We have full sized Hershey bars.. both the regular and large size.
We have large sized candy bars too.. no minis.
Too bad no one wants to come to claim them.
Wendell says there is a car parked at the end of the driveway,
but likely so they can go to our neighbors ..

TOT was so much fun as I remember as a child. We could go out many nights the week of Halloween and we did. We'd dress up in old clothes or just put a sheet over our heads, and Mrs Henry or my mother would walk with us with a flashlight to make sure we were safe. We didn't go in cars.. but we walked up one end of the road one night and the other way another night. It was so delightful.
I remember Mrs Ewing, a schoolteacher, who always got her box of jewelry out for us and we could pick any thing we wanted from the box.. Oh, we thought we had such treasures!
You could trust all of our neighbors too.. they joined in the fun and didn't seem to mind that we didn't have a 1 hour one night dedicated to TOT.

Our own kids went out too.. we took them in the car and kept track of where they were.. In later years, there were problems and kids had to take their 'loot' to the local XRay scanner to check for razor blades and such.. People can be so weird and make a fun time a real misery.
It's not safe to go trick or treating any more unless you really know the family well.
Mrs Petanovich lived about a mile down the road from us and knew Wendell's family.
We took the kids when they were little, down over the hill and back their long drive. Mrs. P had nothing for the kids, but found some Cracker Jacks and a couple apples. We made it a tradition to go there every year. One year the kids were sick and couldn't go.. Mrs P called us and asked what happened to the children? She had their treat ready and waited for them but they never came... she left their treat in the mail box the next day. Mrs. P has been gone many years, but the kids never forgot how sweet she was.

SURPRISE!!!
We just got our first kids! 2 neighbor kids.. How delightful!!!!

ANOTHER SURPRISE !!
Another little neighbor child and
2 more again behind them!!!
WOW!!
More than we've had in the past 10 years!!!

I woke up at 7am feeling chilled. No wonder.. it's only 33 degrees this morning. Brrrrrrrrrrr!
I guess I should have put the extra blanket on the bed. Now what did I do with my granny flannel nighty?

I left the hospital at a little after 7pm last evening. It was quiet. I was falling asleep at my desk again. It's not that I don't get enough sleep- I do.. I just don't understand why I'm so dead exhausted these days other than the effects of the weather. I'd consider chronic fatigue syndrome, but there are so many others who seem to be this way too.. It's so annoying.
Just 93 days to go and I can sleep for 2 days solid if I want.

Just look at our poor little tomato plant.. and one lonely tomato turning red.. maybe. Yesterday there were new blossoms and hope for the future.. hehehe.. now, just one lonely tomato and a very frozen plant.. it won't recover I assure you.
Usually a walk outside with the camera cheers me up and invigorates me to finish the day well..
Today, it was just sad.. leaves everywhere but on the trees.. (that's an exaggeration actually)..
But when you live on the edge of a big woods, leaves are EVERYWHERE in the fall.

Planning our Thanksgiving dinner here.. hoping it will be a good one. I've got the list of items for the meal made up and I've had offers for what some will bring..
Tonite we had mac 'n cheese... institutional style- home made. Wendell and I agree it's our favorite way to have it. We had left over peas and then some frozen green beans.. and we opened a jar of JJ's home made stewed tomatoes !!! Delicious!
I'm considering apple pizza for later.. anyone ever have it or made it?

I've been trying so hard to be pleasant tonite.. I have to work at it because I'm just so exhausted. Gotta be the weather ~ everyone was the same way tonite.. and crabby too.
The night seemed to go on and on and on forever.. I think I worked 24 hrs in one shift.. ?
I asked to go home at 10pm, but the charge nurse thought I should stick around for while... so I didn't ask again.. she let me go at 11:10pm.. 15 min early.. for joy.
Things were painfully slow tonite.

I walked outside and realized that the temperature had dropped severely.. and now I see it's 35 degrees and heading for 29 tonite. No wonder I'm cold. I didn't wear my jacket either.. I'm stubborn too, ya know? But tomorrow is going to be different. I have my jacket out now and I'll be wearing it for the cold temps to come. I noticed the tomatoes aren't covered, so I guess Mandy has given up on them. I don't have the strength to go out and cover the plants now.
....sigh.......

JURY DUTY

I don't consider 'jury duty' a duty. It's for those who are more capable than myself.
Seems the jury commissioners have sent me my 3rd questionnaire for my lifetime, and I'm a little annoyed at how they handle things.
My first jury summons was way back in the early 1980s. I went in every day to the courthouse and sat with other prospective jurors. Toward the end of the week I had this headache that nothing would touch. It was a killer head pain. I was a bit concerned but went in anyway. I got called to be interviewed for a jury that day and it was very frightening to me. The fact that I knew the person personally that was being sued didn't help matters. Each juror was asked these questions- Full name, age, address, place of employment.. and it took me till the guy next to me before I could even remember my name! I was horrified. They didn't select me.. obviously. Immediately after, I went to the woman at the desk and asked what would happen if I had a stroke during jury duty? She told me that they would remove me from a courtroom and reschedule me to make up the lost days. Pretty sick society we live in here, eh?
Anyway.. I went to see my PCP and he checked my blood pressure and found it was through the roof! He told me I'd not be serving any more and wrote a letter to the local judge who after some very long consideration, finally permanently excused me from jury duty.
Now it was some years.. maybe 6? later that I again was called for jury duty. I was really upset when they told me if I didn't serve, I'd be fined $500 and then imprisoned for 10 days.. Nice sick sick society we live in.. I told them I had the letter from the judge, but that didn't matter- their computer had my name and that meant the letter didn't exist as far as they were concerned.
I finally called one last time... their reply: "oh.. we had a computer typo and your name was on the list. We have removed it".. Not one word of I'm sorry we didn't let you know.. or whatever.
Now I have received the 3rd notice. It's not going to make me freak out like the last time.. I'm going to make a copy of the letter from the judge and just send it in. I'm tired of playing games with this bunch who should be docked in pay for not doing their job correctly.. but it won't happen.. our society is too sick to notice or care.
So how did my name get on the computer list again? I know my voter registration is where names are selected from, but when you remove a name permanently from the computer, how does it get selected again?
My next question is why not Wendell? He's never been called .. there are others in the family and lots of friends too who have never had this enlightening experience... and those who would give their eye teeth to serve.. what about those folks? I'm in a fog over this... any ideas? Why and how do they call someone whose name (according to them) is not even on their list for the last 2 times?

96 days to go

Let me be among the first to wish everyone a happy holiday season.. huh? Oh, yeah.. it's not QUITE there yet.. am I pushing things? Hmmmm..
The sooner we get through the holidays, the sooner I will reach retirement.. there is method to my madness. But it IS only 4 weeks to Thanksgiving, and my last vacation week I shall ever have to schedule against 50 other people vying for the same week off. No more "Uh.. I know you have seniority, but I have reservations for my vacation in ( fill in the blank) for this week and this week.. effectively taking away my choice of weeks. After all, I wouldn't want someone to lose the $2500 they put down on their vacation now, would I? So, in recent years and past ones too, though Wendell and I would have loved to celebrate our wedding anniversary on the date, we have had to give it up for someone else's reservations. So how does one make up for this nonsense every year? I choose Thanksgiving week when NO ONE else wants to select that week. I've done it for as many years as I can remember. The funny thing is that every year I ask around if anyone wants that week, and they look at me as if I have a few screws loose and say "No.. are you kidding? Vacation in November?" So I sign up for that week and when it finally arrives, there is a mad scramble to get the day off, and the usual groaning and moaning about how unfair it is that Marilyn has the whole week off... to which I usually reply "get over it".
It is sooooo chilly out today~ 37 degrees this morning according to NOAA. Brrrrrrrrr!! And the frost warnings are out for the next 2 nights- we expect 32 degrees~ freezing.
I think I better get some warmer clothes out. Along with this change in temperature comes a tiredness I can't seem to shake. I sleep fine and for a little longer than usual, but I'm still so very tired. Better get the vitamins going again.. I need them anyway. Glad I got my flu shot too. With tiredness brings a lower immune system and that means I can pick up any virus or bug that is circulating. So, vitamins it is!
I made coffee this morning to warm up my insides, and then heated up 2 rice bags to warm my cold body. Gotta get a space heater for the bedroom. I don't like sleeping in a warm room at night, so we don't turn the heat on here at all. The space heater takes the edge off and it's just right. I borrowed John and Mandy's last winter, but need one of my own. Shopping is not my favorite thing, but I do need this item.
Today is Sabbath and though I am gainfully employed today, Wendell is planning to go to church. Good for him!!
On to the day.. Pray for us

FROGS SINGING IN THE RAIN...

It's gonna be 52 tonite.. it's 53 right now.. I have the fan going. Air needs to move here. Wendell tells me that frost is coming this weekend.. Sunday and Monday. Sigh.. I was just noticing 2 more little tomatoes ripening outside.. and a bunch of new blossoms coming on. I'll have to try to remember to cover them this weekend so they don't get nipped. The plants have really slowed down to about 3-4 tomatoes a week, but they are still ripening. Wonder how long they will keep going if we can get through the frost?!

It's been a sleepy kind of day.. I could just drop where I am. Rain does that to me. I went to the post office to mail a package today and when I got home, I left my lights on. I just don't do stuff like that.
Wendell peeled more apples today and then wanted another apple pie.. I made him one. The crust was really good this time. I got a recipe from the internet that called for oil and milk.. hmmm never used milk before, but it was so flaky.. it melted in your mouth. Enough for me.. no more pie!

I think it's time for that nap I've been trying to take all day..

OCTOBER 26

I got a shock earlier this week when I got a 'reminder' email that October 26 was coming soon and it was Gayle Imm's birthday and would I like to purchase a gift for her? Well, yes, I would, but she has been gone from this world for about 4 years now, and I'm sure nothing I could give her would be even close to the joy which she is now enjoying in her heavenly home.

Aside from that, there is another birthday of note here...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF !
HAVE MANY MANY MORE..

WONDERFUL DAY

It's been a wonderful day.. Wendell and I decided to go out for lunch and then made a couple stops before going home.. fun!
I really love my days off, and in 98 days, I'll have a lot of them to play with.. so I got out pork chops (the ones we bought on sale last week) and baked them along with an apple pie! Oh, supper was so good!
It was chilly today.. but comfortable.. Our beautiful maple has lost all it's leaves, but the other trees all around it are still full of them.. another wind storm and they will all be gone. Sigh....
I keep reminding myself that I have to have winter before I can retire.. so I hope it's not a rough winter.. just enough to get me to January 31st.. then I'm staying inside till it passes...hah!
Today I also wrote my letter of resignation.. but can't send it till later in November. I'm anxious to get it all done.
Time for me to hit the sack..

DOUBLE DIGITS

DOUBLE DIGITS START TODAY
99 DAYS
TO RETIREMENT !!!!

FLU VACCINE

The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.

There are two types of vaccines:

• The "flu shot"—an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

• The nasal-spray flu vaccine—a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age* who are not pregnant.

Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.

About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

When to Get Vaccinated

October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
   • Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
   • Pregnant women,
   • People 50 years of age and older, and
   • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
   • People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
     
     
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
   • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
   • Healthcare workers.

Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy persons aged 2-49 years who are not pregnant.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of age.
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

Vaccine Effectiveness

The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation. Testing has shown that both the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at preventing the flu.

Vaccine Side Effects (What to Expect)

Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and LAIV.

The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are

• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (low grade)
• Aches

If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005, people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

LAIV (FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely.)

In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include

• runny nose
• wheezing
• headache
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• fever

In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include

• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• cough

*On September 19, 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) for healthy children ages 2-4 years old (24-59 months old) without a history of recurrent wheezing, as well as for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant. Previously, approval was for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant.

WHAT'S UP DOC?

The rain has ceased, but the wind is blowing pretty hard right now. I looked outside to see leaves blowing by. Sigh.... Tomorrow the beautiful leaves will all be on the ground~ at least most of them. Sad to see them go.

I saw Dr Harry today.. check up and registering my complaint about my shoulders. OOOhhh ... they hurt!!!! He says we still need to look into Xrays of them and also an MRI...


Ah.. but the good news is that I am off the Advair inhaler now and that means steroids! Woohoo! He gave me the word today and it pleases me. He also gave me some stronger pain meds for the shoulders till we find out just exactly what is going on in there.
I have to get an authorization for the MRIs, so I can't get my appointment just yet, but soon.
Anyway, my lungs are sounding normal now with NO wheezing or crackles. I still have some cough and drainage, but not bad. I think I'll live.
I got my flu shot today too..

On the way home I stopped at a local farm and bought 2 bags of apples. MacIntosh and Cortland. I plan to make a pie. I was going to do that today but ran out of time.. so tomorrow is the day for sure. The apples are so delicious!

UPDATE ON BARB

From Nancy from Idaho:

We're asking for prayer, this news came through as a shock this morning..Duane had let his pastor know.., this is where this letter is coming from. Let's storm the gates of heaven again on Barb's and Duane's behalf. They evo Barb every Tuesday.
We were there last wkend with the grandchn, Barb's complexion looks great, and we can tell you she's working hard to rebuild.. we know it will take many months as the dr said. She is considered total assist.
Pray the insurance will listen to the doctors.

thanks
Love, Nancy & Don Kelly


----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:49 AM
Subject: insurance
Barbara's progress is slow, but steady. Although she continues to improve,the insurance company has denied an appeal to continue to pay for hertherapy. As of early last week, the Kelly family will be responsible forall the expense of her care at the rehab center. Many thanks to those ofyou who have donated money for her medical expenses. Please pray that theLord will continue to provide a way for Barbara to get all the care that she needs.

100 DAYS

I made my call to Personnel (or Human Relations) today. I spoke to the head of the department... the person who will help me sail into retirement without any glitches. She is going to send me the final paperwork next week.I can't get the ball rolling until 90 days before I plan to be done finally. The day is set in stone now- January 31, 2008.. it's a Thursday. I don't work Wednesdays or Thursdays at the hospital, so my final days of work will be that last Monday and Tuesday of January.
She did a quick recheck of dates to make sure Wendell's COBRA insurance would get him to the next phase- Medicare. It does.. and now we are ready. Finances will be tighter after the first of the year, but we figure we won't be using the car much for the first few months anyway because it'll be the middle of winter.
Tonite was so busy and I'm so tired of it all. I kept reminding myself that I only have 101 days to go.. and that kept me afloat for the evening.

It's raining here yet.. all day a gentle soaking rain.. it's chilly too- 51 degrees and expected low is 46. I'll want to get my warm comforter out tonite to make sure I'm cozy. I'm off for the next 3 days and have no real plans except to keep my appointment tomorrow with my PCP for a checkup. I want him to take a good look at my shoulders. I'm still icing them every few hours. The left one is now worse because I'm not able to use the right arm for much of anything.. UGH.
It will get better. I just am so impatient.
Perhaps I'll get some apples locally and make an apple pie tomorrow? That sounds tasty. I'm waiting for John to buy the next round of cream cheese for a cheesecake. You reading this , John? Hahaha

It's time for bed.. Good night all.. more tomorrow.. and an update from Nancy in Idaho too.

FALL AND PUMPKIN CARVING

Every season has it's own brand of beauty.. even winter..Fall is a glorious time when leaves turn brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.. such blends no man could think up on his own..

My burning bush is becoming scarlet at the bottom and is bearing seed

One cannot appreciate this maple in our front yard, but
when the sun shines on it, it's spectacular

PUMPKINS

Every year Mandy and John carve pumpkins. They have a kit that gives them an assist, but the carving is all done by hand. We have had some pretty unique ones in the past.. but here's what they did tonite:

John and his 'little friend' or is that 'fiend'?

Mandy and her buddy

John's has a mean face

Mandy's has a happy smile

Finishing up.. cleaning out the guts

John cleaning the guts out of his

Frick and Frack
with the flash

And without

God as house-builder

"Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
Psalm 127:1 NLT"

Unless the Lord builds the house

"Benjamin Franklin is best known for his inventions (lightning rod) and his aphorisms ("early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"). But he was also a key figure when the thirteen colonies were giving birth to a new nation.
At the age of 81, Franklin was the oldest representative at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Weeks after the convention began, representatives were still haggling about the relative voting power of large states and small states.
Then Franklin stood up and said,
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection.
Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.…
Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend?
Do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?
I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.…
We have been assured, sir, that 'except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it,' and without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
The verse from Psalm 127 had its effect. A compromise was soon worked out, and a Constitution ratified by the states the following year.

adapted from The One Year® Book of Psalms with devotionals by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen (Tyndale) entry for October 27"

Yeah... I know... I am whining.. I just hurt and I don't like pain if I can avoid it. Compliance has gotten me to this morning with relatively little pain, but I know it's not gone yet. I feel the little twinges of pain in that shoulder and the twinge makes me cringe!
It's 45 degrees this morning.. it's chilly, and the very thought of applying ice to my already cold body leaves me wondering just how hypothermic one can become with an ice pack.
Today starts a week of gainful employment that I hope I can stall. It's not that I can't do my job, it's that I need some little changes made to accommodate my problem. Like moving a chart rack to a place where I don't have to reach over my head to obtain the heavy charts. I have my name in for the day off and I do pray they will let me off today. It's Monday and that means it doesn't look very good for a day off. Well, stranger things have happened.