KELLY SPENDS A FEW HOURS AT WORK WHILE PHEEBS & I JEEP SOME GRAVELY BACK ROADS

EVEN SOME OF ONTARIO’S COUNTRY ROADS HAVE CROSSING GUARDS

MANAGED TO GET THIS TURKEY VULTURE JUST AS IT TOOK OFF

Sure had us a hot, humid, muggy day. Kelly felt well enough to head over & put in a few hours at Deer Park Lodge this morning.....those few hours stretched into mid afternoon of course. I totally do not know how she does it sometimes………………..

SOON AS THEY SAW THE LITTLE PHEEBER FACE PEERING OUT THE JEEP’S PASSENGER WINDOW THEY CAME A RUNNING & RACED ALONGSIDE THE FENCE LINE

Knowing the afternoon would be unbearably hot, Pheebs & I piled into the Jeep around 9:30 this morning & headed ourselves off on a cool back roads Jeep tour for a few hours. No A/C in the Jeep so on hot days like today it's best to get our Jeeping in early before the humidity builds up.

GRAZING LUMPS OF WOOL IN A FIELD OF LONG GREEN GRASS

 

WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO STAY COOL ON A SWELTERING HOT DAY

All of today's photos are from our country road wanderings this morning & most were taken from the driver’s seat. Again, just so nice to be outside enjoying the freedom of nature. It's these little jaunts in the countryside that keep my traveling urges slightly pacified.

 

STOPPING TO HAVE A LOOK AROUND AN OLD PIONEER CEMETERY
As sometimes happens in muggy weather here living beside Lake Huron's large colder body of water we are sometimes subjected to fast rolling bands of thunderstorms. Kelly just made it home before a quick one rolled through knocking our power out for about an hour or so. As long as we've lived here power outages have been the norm. Re-set all the inside clocks & outside light timers...............again!!

WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY FLAT TIRES WITH THESE STEEL WHEELS

 

TURKEY VULTURES FAN THEIR WINGS TO STAY COOL ON HOT DAYS PLUS THESE 2 WERE DINING ON SOME ROADSIDE LUNCH

And again, thanks to everyone for their advice, suggestions, & well wishes regarding our on-going medical difficulties. A special thanks to the Wessingers for their in depth comment regarding Valley Fever as well. Valley Fever was again touched upon Thursday morning in Stratford.  And, got your email BDN Don…..thanks:))

 

A HILLTOP GATHERING OF HORSES
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A doctor was addressing a large audience in Oxford. "The material we put into our stomachs should have killed most of us sitting here years ago. Red meat is full of steroids & dye. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High trans fat diets can be disastrous & none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all & most of us have or will eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief & suffering for years after eating it?"

After several seconds of quiet a 70-year-old man in the front row raised his hand & softly said "Wedding Cake."
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

KELLY IS ‘SPARED’ THE NEEDLE IN THE BACK PROCEDURE THIS MORNING

A BIG FRIENDLY FROGGY SMILE AS WE PASS BY THE GOOSE POND THIS MORNING

Now that it has warmed up again it is nice to sit quietly in the early morning hours with windows & doors open listening to the morning songbirds waking up. Last night we were serenaded to sleep once again by our front yard pond frogs. Now if only we could see the big Moon traveling across the star studded sky most nights it would kind of complete that magic nocturnal summer cycle. Sure do miss those big Arizona night skies with twinkling stars from mountain top to mountain top. With a whole bunch of luck this summer I'm hoping we'll be standing under those starry skies again in another 4 or 5 months. Anxious to get rolling again. We've been home long enough now. I'm hoping this is the year we can do our Colorado 4 corners trip & head to Arizona with a round trip through southern Utah & Arizona's Monument Valley.

EASY TO SEE OUR WELL WORN PATH THROUGH THIS YEAR’S LONG GRASS ALONGSIDE THE GOOSE POND…WE HAVE BEEN WALKING THIS TRAIL FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW & EVEN TRUDGED IT THROUGH HEAVY SNOW THE FIRST 4 WINTERS WE WERE HERE…WE ARE THE ONLY ONE’S WHO GENERALLY EVER GO THIS WAY……………………………
Aside from night sweats Kelly had a good night. She still feels she might be running a low grade fever though & cannot sleep on her left or right side. She's down about 10 pounds as well but of course she doesn't mind that part of it. We were on the road headed for the Stratford General Hospital by 8 a.m. this morning. Again, just a nice pleasant drive through the countryside. And not one single traffic light between our house & the hospital. Now how nice is that...........

STRATFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL’S EMERGENCY ENTRANCE

We were at the Emergency entrance on the early side & they took Kelly right in. Think it's the first time either one of us has ever been to an Emergency department without a waiting room full or half full of people. We were the only one's there. Guess it was too early for a lot of folks to have figured out how they were feeling about their day yet.

KELLY CHECKS INTO EMERGE

I AM ALWAYS AWARE OF ‘LIGHTING’ WHEREVER I GO & I LIKED THE LOW LEVEL LIGHTING IN THE EMERGENCY AREA…I HAVE A FEELING IT MAY PURPOSELY BE DESIGNED THAT WAY FOR A CALMING EFFECT ON STRESSED PEOPLE…THIS NEW WING OF THE HOSPITAL IS ONLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD

A preliminary Ultra-Sound showed there was not enough fluid left around Kelly's lungs to safely draw out a sample with a needle so she was spared that procedure. THORACENTESIS  But she was not spared a slightly painful blood work procedure.  Not your ordinary small few vials of blood this time. These were specialized tests & I watched Kelly grimace a few times as 4 large containers already filled with various levels of fluid were used. Two large containers from one arm & then two large containers from the other arm plus some smaller vials.  Both Doctor's Haffner & Saffie came into the room & talked to us explaining what they are doing & how they are going about trying to find the cause of Kelly's health problems. They are convinced something is amiss somewhere but have just not been able to pin point it yet. Another Echocardiogram & Ultra sound are being scheduled as well as further blood & urology tests. We were back out of the hospital shortly after 11 & headed home, well almost. A stop at the Goderich Hospital's emergency department first.  And just a few words to say how nice most medical personal have been over these past few weeks.  Very helpful, professional, & genuinely concerned.

 

THIS IS ONE OF THE 4 LARGE PRE-MIXED BLOOD CONTAINERS AND YOU CAN SEE SMALLER VIALS READY TO BE FILLED AS WELL

There was some equipment to be picked up for one of Kelly's future tests & Stratford suggested we pick up that stuff at the Goderich hospital because it would be more convenient to return the results to Goderich in the 24 hour turn around time. We were sure glad we had decided to take the Santa Fe today instead of the Jeep. The Santa Fe has A/C & by the time we reached home around 1 p.m. the humidity had begun to become a problem. Kelly headed for her bed to rest & I headed for my recliner to watch my favorite sitcom at 2:30, CORNER GAS.  Although the series wrapped up in 2008 I still love watching the re-runs & that gang of bumbling small town Saskatchewanites still puts a smile on my face every time:))

 

A FINAL STOP AT THE GODERICH HOSPITAL BEFORE HEADING HOME

In a nutshell……Kelly is feeling much better than a week ago at this time.  She knows she has a ways to go before the Doctor’s can get to the root cause of her problem which may end up being some kind of a hidden infection somewhere in her body or an auto immune problem.  The next round of tests & test results should narrow it down.  She will be back to the Goderich Hospital Tuesday for more blood work plus another Echocardiogram of her heart & an Ultra-Sound of her stomach.  In 2 weeks we will be back to the Stratford Hospital to meet with her Doctors to see what they have come up with.  Hopefully we will have some more answers soon.  It’s turning out to be a bit of a stressful medical issue summer for both of us.  But we’re doing Okay:))     

 

GRAND BEND ONTARIO

GROANER'S CORNER:(( From a jet pilot we hear, "Yay though I fly through the Valley of Death I shall fear no evil for I am at 80,000 feet and climbing." From that same pilot we may also hear, "When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, I always have enough power left to get me to the scene of the crash." If that same pilot were to make it back to base after his harrowing flight he might also say, "You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to taxi to the terminal."
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

A VERY SURPRISING PHONE CALL TODAY HAS ME AN APPOINTMENT WITH A STRATFORD ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

PHEEBS ON THE PINE TREE TRAIL THIS MORNING

First & foremost, Kelly had a good night & even better day right up to early evening tonight.  She felt good when she woke up this morning & I was on my second day of a pain free hip.  We both made it around the morning trail just fine.  With Pheebs in tow we later took ourselves for a drive to Goderich, picked up some dish soap, did a little banking & had us quick stop at the beach. Back to Bayfield where Pheebs & I split a 'Cold Cut Combo sub. Kelly & I also had ourselves a couple ice cream cones before stopping at Bayfield’s new Library on the way home. In a series of not so good days we chalked this one up to Okay:))

PUBLIC WASHROOMS & POSTAL BOXES IN THIS NEW BUILDING AS WELL

 

 

BAYFIELD’S SPACIOUS, AIRY, & LOVELY NEW LIBRARY ON MAIN STREET

At 3:54 this afternoon our phone rang. It was Mary from the MAITLAND VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER calling.  She had an appointment for me to see Orthopedic Surgeon DR. POTOTSCHNIK about my hip.  I could hardly believe my ears.  It was only just yesterday I had talked to Sue Leddy my Nurse Practitioner about submitting my X-rays to Dr. Pototschnik in Stratford Ontario.  Don’t know if she included any additional info with those X-rays but she sure got the ball rolling.  She is also the one who just over a year ago lined up all the appointments for me after receiving my kidney stone X-rays from a Tucson Arizona Hospital.   Within 8 weeks of arriving home from the South-West last year MY KIDNEY STONE PROCEDURE was thankfully over & done with.

 

DECIDING ON ICE CREAM CONES TODAY…..MY PRALINES & CREAM CONE WAS TOTALLY EXCELLENT 

Getting back to my hip………….Dr. Pototschnik had, in 2 separate operations removed painful & crippling bone spurs from both my feet about 15 years ago.  Having just been told about 24 hours earlier yesterday that an average wait time for a hip consultation would be about 9 months I was shocked to hear I had an appointment for Monday June 10th at the Clinton Hospital which is only a week & a half away & a short 10 minute drive from Bayfield.  For the life of me I do not understand how I got an appointment so fast.

<<< LILAC PETALS COVER A WALKWAY PATH IN OUR FRONT YARD

A few questions to answer in our Shout Box & Comment section in Tuesday's Post. I don't think RV SUE has moved all her files to her new site yet but I think she may right now be in the process of doing that. I'm sure she will be back on line just as soon as she get's everything sorted out. And it looks like legendary RV Blogger TIOGA GEORGE has written his final post. JUDY had a question & yes, my hip X-rays showed bone spurs & I think I recall my NP initially said they do not attempt to repair or remove bone spurs, they simply replace the hip joint. My hip is also Arthritic. I don't remember the word cartilage being used although it might have been. I suspect it is the bone spurs that may have something to do with the erratic pain being unpredictable & why it comes & goes. We did discuss the secondary problems that can result when one's mobility is impaired. Lack of exercise, weight gain, weakening of muscles, stress put on other limbs to compensate for the problem etc. And the importance of remaining active despite the pain by using Tylenol. Physical therapy to keep other muscles strong is another option.

PHEEBS IS NOT A WATER DOG & TOTALLY IGNORES THE LAKE LIKE IT’S NOT EVEN THERE

 
GODERICH IS KNOWN FOR THIS BOARDWALK WHICH RUNS THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BEACH…MANY SENIORS WALK HERE

Also a question about our bird feeder station & what keeps the Squirrels off it. Below is a picture of the bird station & the stove pipe I wrapped around the post holding it up. This smooth metal stovepipe has not only stopped the Squirrels from reaching the platform but has stopped the Raccoons as well. And the bird station is high enough to stop Squirrels from jumping up from the ground.

Our morning's deluge of rain gave way to sunny warm blue skies this afternoon. Managed a couple short walks with Pheebs, Kelly rested up & we both ended the day on the plus side. First thing Thursday morning we head for the Stratford General Hospital’s Emergency Department for Kelly's THORACENTESIS procedure.  We’re hoping the Doctor might have a few answers for us regarding the results of some blood tests taken a few days ago as well.  Kelly’s not too worried about having a needle shoved in her back tomorrow but if it was me I would probably be miles away by now hiding under a shrub in a deep dark forest somewhere…………….

---

GROANER'S CORNER:(( One day some fisherman caught tons of fish called Tench. The fisherman couldn't eat them all so they gave them to the Mayor of the town. The Mayor wasn't sure what to do with them. Then he had an idea; he would have a fish-eating competition.

When they had the competition, there were two finalists: a man from a place called Fife, whose name was Mr. Hicks; and a man that was from Sweden, whose name is Sven.

So they had the final eat off; the Mayor fired the starting pistol and both men started eating the Tench. No sooner had Mr. Hicks bitten into the fish than one of his teeth fell out. He couldn't eat because of this so he stopped, but the Mayor refused to halt the competition. So Sven kept on eating and ended up eating nine of these Tench fish.
The next day the headlines read: ONE TOOTH FREE FOR FIFE HICKS, SVEN ATE NINE TENCH!
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

A BETTER DAY FOR KELLY BUT NIGHT’S ARE STILL DIFFICULT

HOPE YOUR GOING TO FEEL BETTER SOON MOM

Our overnight rains brought in slightly warmer temperatures this morning & oh how welcome that finally is. I'm sure many people in our area lost early Spring plantings to the cold nights laden with frost lately.  Had us a deluge of rain all day making any bird activity in our front yard very scarce.  Skies were heavily overcast & there was not really enough light for any bird photos anyway.

OUR MISTY RAIN SOAKED FORREST TRAIL LATE THIS AFTERNOON

Luckily, we have not had a Squirrel problem around our bird feeder again this year. Oh they are out there alright but ever since putting the tin stove pipe around the bird station post two Springs ago we have not had a single Squirrel breach the security. Biggest problem in our front yard again this year are neighborhood cats decimating our frog pond. Our driveway's security light came on Monday night around 10 & I saw a big light colored fluffy cat heading for the pond. Frogs are easy prey for marauding cats............

 
TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY RAINY FRONT YARD DAY

Don't exactly know when it was I stopped using shampoo but for sure it was quite awhile ago. Bar soap is a cleansing agent so why wouldn't it work for cleansing hair as well. Well in fact it does clean hair just fine. When I finally got that straightened out in my head that was the end of using shampoo for this guy. Didn't figure my hair needed 'extra body', 'total care & nourishing', or to be 'conditioned'. Conditioned for what...the Olympics!! Didn't need a 'Volumizing Root Boost' either. And 'stronger, shinier, & softer', for sure didn't sound appealing. Never 'snowed' on any of my shirts so never did feel the need for any of that 'Head n Shoulders stuff. And when did the words 'extra bouncy', 'beautifully manageable', 'lasting results', & 'softening moisture', ever mean anything to a man when it came to hair anyway. Since when did my hair need to be 'revitalized'? How did it get unvitalized in the first place? 'Super Serum', now that is downright scary. And what's with 'strong hair'? I usually associate strong with muscles, not hair. 'Natural well being' might have meant something if it had concerned my health & not that stuff growing on the top of my head. 'Salon Glazed hair? I think not!! 'Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Infused w/ Natural Mint & Tea Tree Oil'. Are you kidding me!!!! Oh & don't forget 'Toxin-Free.' Geeeeezzzz, that's gotta be pretty important eh. Know what......just got myself to thinkin & probably all's I really need is just a new haircut. After I wash my hair with a good bar of soap that is.............:))

PHEEBS STOPS TO SMELL SOME FLOWERS ALONG THE TRAIL EARLIER THIS EVENING
Ever wake up in the night to the sound of rain on the roof & suddenly realize you have left your car windows down, some inside chairs, outside & a shed door or two open. Yep, it's happened to me before alright but not last night. I luckily pre-guessed the weather & wound up the Jeep's window, put a couple chairs in the shed & closed the door. Isn't it nice to sometimes win a few:))

DON’T KNOW THE NAME OF THESE WILDFLOWERS BUT THEY GROW IN BUNCHES NEAR THE GOOSE POND

Oh no, could there be 2 of us!!  Noticed a comment on a previous post from Cyndi over at WANDERLUST in which she stated, “I'm working this summer at the Mammoth Hot Springs General Store in Yellowstone - a guy walked in yesterday who could be your twin. I told him he had a twin in Canada named Al, and he said, "My name's Al." He showed me his driver's license to prove it. He even had a hat on just like yours”……..Good grief can we be living in a Parallel Universe?  Heavens to Murgatroyds…………………

 

Of course wouldn't you know it. Appointment with my Nurse Practitioner this afternoon & my hip was on it's best behaviour. I could have jumped up & danced on the examining room table.  My NP is now sending my hip X-rays to a Stratford Surgeon as well.  Doctor Pototschnik removed painful bone spurs from both my big toe joints back in the late 90’s & is an excellent Surgeon.  If push came to shove I would much prefer having my hip done in Stratford as opposed to London but I guess it will depend on who can do the hip surgery first.  My NP also said the average waiting time for hip replacement is 9 months & she said it is highly unlikely either the London or Stratford Surgeon will be able to do anything for me before Spring of next year.  And that’s the way it is here in Ontario unless it is an emergency or a person is in dire straights.   That old saying ’One Day At A Time’ takes on more meaning for me now……………………….. 

FOCUS ON THE WATER DROPLET IS OFF A TAD BUT I LIKED THE GREEN HUES

Kelly had a better day & even skipped out to the Bayfield Library this morning.  She whupped up a nice roast beef supper with potatoes & gravy but by 8 p.m. the pain we thought was gone had returned to her upper chest affecting her breathing again.  We’ll see what the morning brings…………………………

JUDY FROM TRAVELS WITH EMMA MIGHT HAVE CALLED THIS BUMBLE BEE PHOTO…….’THE END’
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Two Newfie's walk into a pet shop. Right away they go to the bird section and Mick says to Paddy; "That's them". The shopkeeper comes over and asks if he can help.

"Yeah, we’ll take four of them there budgies in that cage up there", says Mick, "Put them in a paper bag"

The shopkeeper does as asked and the two pay for the birds and leave. They get into Mick''s van and drive until they reach a cliff with a 500ft drop.

"This looks like a grand place", says Mick.

He then takes the two birds out of the bag, places them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff.

Paddy watches as his friend drops off the edge and goes straight down for a few seconds followed by a loud "Splat!"

As Paddy looks over the edge of the cliff he shakes his head & says, "This budgie jumpin'' is too dangerous for me..."

A few minutes later, Billy approaches. He too has been to the pet shop and is carrying the familiar 'paper bag.'

Billy pulls a parrot out of the bag and Paddy notices that in the other hand Billy is carrying a gun.

"Watch this Paddy" he says, as he launches himself over the edge of the cliff.

Paddy watches as half way down Billy takes the gun and shoots the parrot. Billy continues to plummet until he joins Mick’s mashed remains at the bottom of the cliff.

Paddy shakes his head and says, "I'm never trying that parrotshooting either."

After a few minutes, Danny strolls up. He too has been to the pet shop and walks up with his 'paper bag.'

Danny pulls a chicken out of the bag. He puts the chicken above his head, holds its legs and launches himself off the cliff & crashes to the rocks below.

Once more Paddy shakes his head saying, "For the life of me Danny, first there was Mick with his Budgie Jumpin, then Billy Parrotshooting and now there you go........... Hen Gliding!!

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

ANOTHER DAY - ANOTHER HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM:((

I didn’t make it out for our morning walk but Pheebs & Kelly made it all the way around the trail.  Kelly was again worn out by the time they got back.  A short rest & she was on the go again.  One little thing I would like to clear up over there in the Shout Box.  Kelly did not throw her meds away.  She became sooooo sick to her stomach Friday night she just couldn’t handle taking any more of the Ibuprofen & Colchicine.  She still has the meds but has not been able to stomach the prescribed doses.  Despite not taking them she has slowly been making progress.  While washing our sunroom windows this morning I was very heartened to see Kelly inside regaining some energy.  She had her cleaning hat on straightening things up under the kitchen sink.

CAUGHT THIS LITTLE HUMMER PERCHED OUTSIDE OUR SUNROOM WINDOW THIS MORNING >>>

It was high noon when we rolled out of Bayfield heading for the Stratford Hospital.  It is a nice quiet peaceful drive to the hospital with 97% of the journey being through rural farmlands.  We were early & it wasn’t long before Doctor Haffner’s assistant in training, Dr. Saffie was going over Kelly’s case.  A preliminary examination & he slipped out to confer with Dr.  Haffner.  They were both soon back in the room.  Possibilities were talked about, medical words discussed between the 2 Doctors, questions asked & answers given.  Heard the words ‘auto immune system’ mentioned.  At one point Dr. Haffner turned to Kelly & said, “ you definitely have something cooking in there.” (meaning her chest cavity)  Also suspects the intestines may be involved in the problem as well.  He also said the two previous diagnostic results of Pericarditis & Pleural Effusion were correct but there is still something else going on somewhere & they have to get to the bottom of what it is.   

KELLY HAS A LIST WITH HER SO AS NOT TO FORGET TO TELL THE DOCTOR ANYTHING

We have to be back at the Stratford Hospital Thursday morning whereupon fluid from around Kelly’s lungs will be drawn & analyzed.  This procedure is called a THORANCENTESIS.   Kelly also left behind 5 vials of blood at the hospital today for specialized testing.  And ‘Valley Fever’ is not off the table yet.  We are still awaiting test results for that from the Goderich Hospital.  We brought it up again today & Doctor Haffner had a much longer medical term for it.  The Valley Fever test results will be another week or so.  We were home by 5 o’clock this afternoon & I could tell Kelly was feeling better.  Neither of today’s Doctors said she had to go back onto her Ibuprofen/Colchicine meds & Kelly was very, very, happy about that.

---

It was one year ago tomorrow (Tuesday) that I had my kidney stone procedure & coincidentally it was a the same Stratford Hospital we were at today.  No word on my hip problem yet so Kelly called my Nurse Practitioner this morning & I have an appointment Tuesday afternoon to see if there is any way we can speed this whole thing up.  The pain is more frequent now & lasting longer preventing me from getting the daily exercise I so desperately need.  If my appetite would drop with my disability that would be a good thing, but no such luck.  Guess if it wasn’t for all this medical stuff going on all of a sudden I would be hard pressed for things to write about.  Just hope readers can hang in until we get ourselves beyond these med problems & back into some semblance of daily interests.  We had talked about getting away with the RV for a few days awhile back but that was before all these med problems cropped up for both of us.  We have had to shift those plans to a back burner for now until we can get all this straightened out.

FIRST PAIR OF AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES ON OUR NEW NIGER SEED FEEDER TODAY

I’ll be the first one to admit I do not know much when it comes to cell phones. That whirling technology left me in the dust a long time ago & I have never gathered together enough interest in it to try & catch up. But for you folks on the move & on the look-out for cheaper cell phone service I think Nina over at WHEELING IT just might have something for you.  I remember writing this paragraph a week ago but I think I may have forgot to post it.

---

Ever notice how the world keeps growing younger all around us.  Saw ourselves another good of example of that today.  Both male Doctors this afternoon looked just like a couple of high school guys who for a lark jumped class, threw some stethoscopes around their necks & headed off to the local hospital to play Doctor.   Kelly said her own Doctor in Bayfield looks like she just graduated from high school as well.  I am amazed at  how young some of these medical people are & doubly amazed at how much they have accomplished with their lives in such a short period of time.   For a Doctor to become a Specialist one has to first become a Doctor.  I’m sure the schooling alone takes years & the only logical conclusion I can come to is that many of these professional people had to have started their medical journeys about the age of 3.  How in the heck can someone get sooooo smart sooooo fast??  Boggles my mind……..& I do still have enough of a mind left to boggle!!

GROANER’S CORNER:((  (think I might have posted this joke once before but not sure) A 6-year-old and a 4-year-old are upstairs in their bedroom. "You know what?" says the 6-year-old. "I think it's about time we start cussing." The 4-year-old nods his head in approval. The 6-year-old continues. "When we go downstairs for breakfast I'm going to say hell and you say ass."

"OK!" The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.

Their mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6-year-old what he wants for breakfast. "Aw hell, Mom, I guess I'll have some Cheerios."

WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit, slapping his rear every step. The mom locks him in his room and shouts "You can just stay there till I let you out!"

She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4-year-old, and asks with a stern voice, "And what do YOU want for breakfast young man?

"I don't know," he blubbers, "But you can bet your ass it won't be Cheerios!"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.