WHICH IN TURN BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES

Splashes of wonderful sunshine on this 38F morning perked my spirits and occasionally lit up the road ahead as Pheeps and I slowly made our way along a few country roads on this quiet Sunday morning.  So many things to think about and so little time to think about them.

It was another very quiet day at home here for Pheebs and I.  My interest in going outside and maybe raking a few leaves was just not there.  Luckily for me, one of my main hobbies is reading and the other is my blog which focuses much of my time and attention putting it all together.

 A SCHOOL BUS SHELTER AT THE END OF THE FARM LANE TO SHELTER KIDS FROM THE WIND, RAIN, AND SNOW, WHILE WAITING FOR THE MORNING SCHOOL BUS

 I HAVE A FEELING THAT MOTORHOME IS NOT DESTINED FOR THE WARM SUNNY SOUTH THIS WINTER

 THAT PIECE OF GREEN MACHINERY SITTING ON A TRAILER FITS ONTO THE FRONT OF A COMBINE AND IS USED TO HARVEST CORN

I talked with Kelly this morning and it is sad to hear her weakened voice.  It is the voice of someone trying to make the best out of a bad situation.   I have become very disappointed in our health care system in this country and I have become very disappointed in a hospital that I once held in high regard.  In these last few years of Kelly's health care, I have seen and heard things that are just not right.  University Hospital is a training hospital and that is admirable.  But, there is an unavoidable problem with that.  The vast majority of trainees are from different countries with different cultures and languages.  I had a perfect example of this two days ago when our phone rang and I saw on the message display the letters LHC.  I knew right away that meant 'London Health Center' and it was probably University Hospital calling, and probably something important.  When I said hello, the lady on the other end began talking rapidly in very poor English.  Try as I did and asking her twice to repeat what she said I could not understand her.   I recognized a few English words and the rest to me was jibberish.  I finally said, 'you must have the wrong number' and hung up.  Now, that could have been a hugely important call.  If so, why oh why oh why would the hospital have someone with such poor English skills call anyone????  What is the matter with people!!!!  Where has common sense gone!!!!  Although 'almost' everyone may be trying their best, it is obvious that there are huge communication problems in this world.  Couple this with the fact that our hospitals are overcrowded, and understaffed, and it is inevitable that mistakes are continuously made in the chaos and confusion.  In all of this, patients are being overlooked.  I have seen this firsthand in Kelly's case.  It makes me more sad than angry that our once great health care system in the country has deteriorated so far.  In the words of one of Kelly's nurse people, "Our health care system has gone for a #!*%".  Kelly was told yesterday that her abdomen would be 'tapped' today to relieve the pressure built up from Ascites. (the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs) There is so much fluid in her abdomen that it is pressing on her stomach and it is uncomfortable for her to eat.  The fluid is pressing on her lungs causing her shortness of breath which I can hear in her voice.  That fluid is also pressing on her spine where the two compression fractures are and it is pressing on her bladder causing a whole host of problems there as well.  It is uncomfortible for her to lay down with all that fluid in her.  A doctor came in this morning and told her that "they would address the Asites problem tomorrow (Monday).  Very upsetting for Kelly as she tries so hard to put a positive outlook on all that she is going through.  And then there is her Prolapse situation that needs immediate attention but nothing (except a referral) has been done.  And, the earliest she could get into an Osteoporosis Clinic for her back is the end of January '2026' and that's over a year away.  Like Kelly said this morning, had we known this was going to happen, we would have moved away years ago to a different country with a far better healthcare system.  I feel we have many fine medical people here in our country but I also think that for them it is like trying to swim upstream in a fast-flowing river and they are all so very overwhelmed, over worked, and over tired.  There are just too many people on the Planet and we don't have the infrastructure to properly care for everyone.  It bothers me to write what I have just written but sometimes things just have to be said !! I am just so disappointed.  Update:: After writing the above earlier this afternoon Kelly called later and said a Doctor with an assistant surprisingly came into her room and commenced to 'tap' that Ascetis fluid from her abdomen.  She said they drained a  total of 6 litres from her abdomen.  She said she is feeling better and I noticed the change in her voice immediately.  The happy bounce was coming back and her voice was stronger.  She's now hoping there may be a chance she can come home tomorrow. 

OSAGE ORANGE TREES AHEAD

 HELLO, ALL YOU LITTLE GREEN OSAGE ORANGE GROUND APPLES

It is at the end of each day now these past few years that I appreciate that it is not the beginning of each day.  With the end of each day, all challenges for that day are behind me, unlike the beginning of each day when all of the challenges are still ahead of me.  At the end of each day, I know what the challenges were.  At the beginning of each day, I do not know what hidden challenges await me and the knowable challenges I do know about, worry me.  Hasten my slumber, bring on my sleep, and in the morning I may have a plan for the new day I must keep................A friend of mine on Facebook sent me these words today which in turn brought tears to my eyes as I read it thinking of Kelly.................. Ernest Hemingway once said: In our darkest moments, we don’t need solutions or advice. What we yearn for is simply human connection—a quiet presence, a gentle touch. These small gestures are the anchors that hold us steady when life feels like too much.

Please don’t try to fix me. Don’t take on my pain or push away my shadows. Just sit beside me as I work through my own inner storms. Be the steady hand I can reach for as I find my way.

My pain is mine to carry, my battles mine to face. But your presence reminds me I’m not alone in this vast, sometimes frightening world. It’s a quiet reminder that I am worthy of love, even when I feel broken.

So, in those dark hours when I lose my way, will you just be here? Not as a rescuer, but as a companion. Hold my hand until the dawn arrives, helping me remember my strength.

Your silent support is the most precious gift you can give. It’s a love that helps me remember who I am, even when I forget.

 ALL DECKED OUT IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST

 WHEN MY TRUSTY NAVIGATOR FEELS A LITTLE SNOOZY IT'S TIME TO HEAD FOR HOME

Al's Music Box:)) Too Late To Turn Back Now is the 1972 follow-up single of Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose to their debut hit "Treat Her Like A Lady". The single had previously been released in 1970 on the Platinum label.  Written by Eddie Cornelius, the song had great success upon its re-release, peaking at number 5 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.  "Too Late to Turn Back Now" went to No. 1 on Cash Box's chart of the Top 100 Singles for the week of July 29, 1972.  "Too Late to Turn Back Now" is ranked as the 34th biggest U.S. hit of 1972. The record was awarded a gold disc on 2 August 1972 for one million sales by the Recording Industry Association of America.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( An incompentent counterfeiter spent all day making his funny money. At the end of the day he realizes he spent all his time making $15 bills.  He figures that the only way he's going to get anything from this batch of money, is to find a place where the people aren't too bright and change his phoney money for real cash.  He travels to a small town and walks into a small Mom and Pop grocery store. He goes to the old man behind the counter and asks him, "Do you have change for a $15 bill?"  The old man replies, "I sure do...How would you like that? An eight and a seven or two sixes and a three?"

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- Notice! Take lettuce from the top of the stack,or heads will roll!
- A TV can insult your intelligence, but nothing rubs it in like a computer. 

- I tried to get in touch with my inner child,but he isn't allowed to talk to strangers.

- I have to take my paycheck to the bank.  It's too little to go by itself.

- I must be following my diet too closely.  I keep gaining on it.

- Welcome to Megacomputer's 24-hour helpline.  If you have been waiting LESS than 24 hours, please remain on the line.

- Whenever I'm in a mood to watch the world go by, I just keep to the posted speed limit.
- Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

- One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
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Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!
Doctor: I am, piece by piece.

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings

Al's Art Gallery