AN ENCOURAGING PHONE CALL TO LONDON THIS MORNING

THE LINWOOD CONSERVATION AREA

I was hoping for sunshine this morning but it didn't happen.  It was under coal-gray skies that Pheebs and I jeeped ourselves out into the countryside southeast of Bayfield.  A walk in the Linfield Conservation Area on Pavilion Road and a few photos along the way helped me gather my thoughts.

 HEADING EAST ON PAVILION ROAD

 AREA BUSH LINES ARE FINALLY BEGINNING TO SHOW SOME COLOR

 THE BEAN HARVEST IS ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT DUE TO WET WEAHTER

 AND THESE BE THE BEANS

 THESE APPLES ALONGSIDE THE BEANFIELD REMIND ME OF APPLE BEAN PIE:))

The last thing Amy, Kelly's liaison lady regarding Kelly's liver transplant encouragingly and good-heartedly said to her on the phone yesterday was to 'stew-on-it,' and call her back this morning.  And you can bet that Kelly did a bit of stewing and came up with a list of questions.  She was right on that phone this morning calling Amy back.  Pheebs and I were out at the time but when we came home, the first thing Kelly said to me was that she felt much better after this morning's phone call.  Some misconceptions and misunderstandings were cleared up.  First, about the age thing....This has been a back-and-forth thing right from the start with some key medical people saying seventy-five (Kelly's age) is the cut-off point for the surgery while others have said no it isn't.  Amy this morning explained it this way.....If a person is an old seventy-five they are not likely to get onto the list but if they are a young seventy-five they can make the list.  Amy said to Kelly, "and, you are definitely a young seventy-five".  She (not the surgeon) also told Kelly that her weight is fine but it would be good if she could gain another five or so pounds.  She also said that she is in the process of setting up an appointment for Kelly with the head surgeon himself.  There are other surgeons at the hospital but this guy is the head honcho.  She is also setting up a heart-related stress test.  She told Kelly that she would not be on the 'on-hold' list long and that after a few more tests the 'on-hold' restriction would be lifted.  (why wasn't Kelly told that yesterday) Now, either Kelly and I misunderstood some of yesterday's information or some things changed in London overnight.  Amy's last words to Kelly today in a good humor manner were, 'stay tuned'.  It has been clear since the beginning that Kelly's liaison lady is definitely on her side and rooting for her:))

Now, for me and last night's post.  I should have waited until today before voicing my opinions about yesterday's phone call.  I sometimes get myself a little emotional and over the top about things and that sometimes spills over into my blog.  Anyway, I've got myself back in line, back on track, and back on board feeling better about Kelly's future.  One month from yesterday I meet with my hip replacement surgeon in Sarnia, Ontario.  

 THE HARDWOOD FOREST AT THE END OF THIS TRAIL IS BEING LOGGED AT THE MOMENT

 I THINK THIS COULD BE CALLED APPLE LANE

 THE BLUE WATERS OF LAKE HURON CAN BE SEEN ON THE HORIZON

It is quite a different time in our lives now than just a few years ago when at this time of year we would be on the cusp of hopping into our RV and heading off for another great adventurous winter in America's Great Southwest.  We so much miss you Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Utah..........       

PHEEBS AND I ARE SURE GLAD WE ARE BACK IN OUR GOOD OLD JEEP AGAIN

Al's Music Box:)) Cab Driver by The Mills Brothers was a 1968 single release and added to their album, 'Fortuosity'.  I was surprised by this release date because I thought I remembered hearing this song in the 50s.  But, I guess not.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Mr. Jones is driving past the state mental hospital when his left rear tire suffers a flat. While he is changing the tire, another car goes by, running over the hub cap in which he was keeping the lug nuts. The nuts are all knocked into a nearby storm drain.  He is at a loss for what to do and is about to go call a cab when he hears a shout from behind the hospital fence, where one of the inmates has been watching the whole thing.  "Hey, pal! Why don't you just take one lug nut off each of the other three wheels and use them to replace the missing ones? That'll hold your tires on until you can get to a garage or something."  Mr. Jones is startled by the patient's seeming rationality, but realizes the plan will work, and installs the spare tire without incident. Before he leaves, he calls back to the patient. "You know, that was pretty sharp thinking. Why do they have you in there?"  The patient smiles and says, "I'm in here because I'm crazy, not because I'm stupid."

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I got really angry with my car navigation today. I even yelled at it and told it to "go to hell."  Twenty minutes later, I arrived at my mother-in-law’s house.

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KELLY MADE IT ONTO THE LIVER TRANSPLANT LIST, BUT.......:((

The phone call we had been anxiously waiting for came at 2:48 this afternoon and it turned out to be a good news/not so good news call.  First, the good news....yes, she is officially on the list:))  But here's the not so good news:((  Everybody seems to be on board with the liver transplant except the senior surgeon who has now thrown the same old monkey wrench into the gears.  We thought the surgeon had signed off and okayed the surgery but as it turns out, it was not the head surgeon that Kelly had met with but one of his subordinates.  We didn't know that until today.  The head surgeon has not even met Kelly.  I personally feel this was a 'miss-step' by the hospital.  The head surgeon states Kelly's age and weight as the problem. (again)  We thought Kelly was already through and beyond all that.  However the head surgeon guy is now saying for Kelly's age and weight, she needs to have a higher body index number.  So, despite Kelly being on the list she now has to go to London for additional tests, and according to Kelly's liaison person, those additional tests could be as soon as this week.  And, Kelly is going to insist she personally meet with the head surgeon in person this time!!!!   So, I guess the bottom line is this........despite being on the list, she is still not eligible for a transplant because they have placed her into an 'on hold' category.  That means if a liver match was found she still wouldn't be eligible until further tests and changes occur.  We're happy she's at least on the list but we are disappointed at the additional 'conditions' that have been added.  Kelly will be talking with her liaison lady again tomorrow.   

It was another overcast morning with only a few brief sunny rays making their way through the gray cloud cover.  Despite a chilly wind, Pheebs and I made it out to our country road walking spot although it was only half of our half mile we were able to do.  My hip became sorer the further we went so we had to turn around and head back to the Jeep.  The only thing I managed to accomplish this afternoon was to hang up another bird feeder and trim an overgrown Forsythia shrub in front of our metal shed.

I finished my book The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett a few days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.  For my next book, I headed into the seventeenth century and found a well-told tale of youthful adventure and suspense from yesteryear.  This time I latched onto the coattails of a young English lad by the name of Tom Cheke.  I have only just started this book and I am already enthralled knee-deep into the travails of his triumphs and misfortunes in DJ Munroe's Slave To Fortune.

Al's Music Box:)) You Don't Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce from his 1974 album, 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim'.  The lyrics of the the track concern the fate of a 'pool-shooting son-of-a-gun' by the name of 'Big' Jim Walker when his 'mark', Willie 'Slim' McCoy, from South Alabama, shows up to get a refund from being hustled or get revenge. The song is notable for the line, "You don't tug on Superman's cape/You don't spit into the wind/You don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger/And you don't mess around with Jim." However, after the song ends with Jim being thoroughly thrashed by his victim ("he'd been cut 'n 'bout a hundred places/ and he'd been shot in a couple more"), the chorus now goes, "You don't mess around with Slim."

 SUNSET

GROANER'S CORNER:((  You know your getting older when...

1. You and your teeth don't sleep together.

2. Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren't wearing any.

3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you're not eating cereal.

4. Your back goes out but you stay home.

5. When you wake up looking like your driver's license picture.

6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch.

7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.

8. When happy hour is a nap.

9. When you're on vacation and your energy runs out before your money does..

10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you and you always hated it.

11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age.

12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there.

13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up.

14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.

15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer.

16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr.

17. You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.

18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend.

19. Getting 'lucky' means you found your car in the parking lot.

20. The twinkle in your eye is merely a reflection from the sun on your bifocals.

21. It takes twice as long - to look half as good.

22. Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt - doesn't work.

23. You look for your glasses for half an hour and they were on your head the whole time.

24. You sink your teeth into a steak - and they stay there.

25. You give up all your bad habits and still don't feel good.

26. You have more patience, but it is actually that you just don't care anymore.

27. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.

28. You wonder how you could be over the hill when you don't even remember being on top of it.

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Ever wonder how many days old you are??  if so, check this out....How Many Days Old Are You  I checked it out and as of today I have been on this Planet for 28,863 days.

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 OH, SO THAT'S HOW IT WORKS

WE ARE BOTH REMAINING OPTIMISTIC

 DRESSED WARM IN THEIR SUNDAY MORNING FINERY A GROUP OF HORSES GATHER IN A LEAFY CORNER OF THE BARNYARD

Not a leaf stirring, not even a pine needle first thing this morning.  Rain backed off a bit in the night leaving us with a light sometimes drizzly overcast day.  

 I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS CROP IS BUT IT HAS A SOFT PASTEL COLOR TO IT

My first cousin Norma and her husband Jim have been readers of my blog almost since I first started it back in 2006.  Jim passed away Saturday morning after a tough battle with cancer.  Life just doesn't seem fair sometimes.

 

 SHEEP NESTLED UNDER A STAND OF PROTECTIVE PINE TREES ON THIS COOL DAMP DAY

Pheebs and I in the Jeep, slowly meandered around a few rural roads taking in the mid-October countryside scenery this morning.  Even managed a few photos along the way on this dull gray day.

A COUPLE OF BUZZARDS ON A MANURE PILE

 AND A COUPLE DOZEN CIRCLING BUZZARDS OVERHEAD

A big day for us tomorrow as we patiently await a telephone call from Kelly's liaison lady at London's University Hospital regarding the liver committee's decision on a liver transplant for Kelly.  We are both remaining optimistic.   

THIS LONE BURNT OUT COMBINE STILL SITS IN THE FIELD WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE LAST SUMMER DURING THE WHEAT HARVEST

Al's Music Box:)) All Alone Am I by Brenda Lee from her 1962 album, 'All Alone Am I'.   This song became a top 10 pop hit in both the United States and England. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1962 and number seven on the English Singles Chart in February 1963.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A teacher says, “Okay, class. Today we're going to be talking about the tenses. If I say ‘I'm beautiful,' which tense is it?”  Little Johnny raises his hand and says, “Obviously past tense, Miss.”

- I accidentally put eyedrops in my ear...

Now I can literally see what you’re saying!

- Why are frogs always so happy? They eat whatever bugs them.

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FOR ABOUT TWELVE SECONDS

A NEIGHBOR'S BENCH IN THEIR BACKYARD OVERLOOKING THE PARK'S POND

A gray overcast morning with a slight drizzle.  Pheebs and I slipped into and around Bayfield and came home.  Kelly headed off to Goderich in the white car.

 PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF BAYFIELD'S NORTH AND SOUTH PIERS

With the cold and damp outside it's a nice feeling to be inside where it's all warm and cozy and stuff.  I wish we had the gentle wafting aroma of a sweet potpourri simmering on the stove to really put the icing on the cake so to speak.

 MOST OF THIS APPLE TREES APPLES HAVE ALREADY GONE KER-PLUNK 

Figuring we wouldn't be needing our inside stand-up summer fans anymore this year I decided to take them out to the shed for the winter.  Well, you know what that kind of thing leads to eh.  So, it was nearly an hour before I got myself out of Putterville and back inside the house again.  Oh, and I rounded up two more Frogasauresus and took them for a bouncy wheelbarrow ride to the Park's pond.  Pheebs came along and we made a short walk out of it and actually basked in a wondrous ray of errant sunshine for about twelve seconds.   

 TWO FROGS EAGERLY AWAITING THEIR BOUNCY RIDE TO THE PARK'S POND

 NO, THAT IS NOT A FROG EATING PYTHON IN THE POND, IT'S A TREE BRANCH

Al's Music Box:)) How High The Moon by Les Paul and Mary Ford was a 1951 single release. This version featured Paul on all guitars (lead, rhythm, muted strings for guitar percussion, and a bass line played on guitar). Ford's lead vocals took three takes to record; since Paul and Ford recorded (at least Ford's vocals) at night, she placed a blanket over her head so most of the sound would be directed towards the microphone and would not travel through the building and wake up neighbors.  Regardless, while recording one of Ford's harmony vocal parts, their neighbors complained about the noise.  According to Paul, the final recording featured 12 guitar parts and 12 vocal parts.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  There were 3 friends stranded on an island. Exploring the island, the 3 men found a bottle so they opened it. A genie came out, and she said that she would grant them 3 wishes. The first man said, "I wish I was with my family" then poof he was with his family. The second guy said "I wish I was in a bar with my friends" then poof he was gone. The third guy was feeling bad and the genie asked, "What's wrong?" The man said, I'm lonely I wish my friends were here. Poof, his two friends were back on the island.

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How does a train hear another train coming?  With its engineers.

Time may be a great healer, but it's also a lousy beautician.

Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels so good.

Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.

Stupidity got us into this mess -- why can't it get us out?

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just stand there

.An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world. A pessimist fears that this is true.

There is always death and taxes; however, death doesn't get worse every year.

It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.

I don't mind going nowhere as long as it's an interesting path.

Anything free is worth what you pay for it.

It hurts to be on the cutting edge.

If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

I always wanted to be a procrastinator but never got around to it.

My inferiority complex is not as good as yours.

I am having an out of money experience.

I plan on living forever! So far, so good!

Not afraid of heights -- afraid of widths.

A day without sunshine is like night.

If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually, you find a hair stylist you like.

You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes, age comes alone.

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MEDICALLY SPEAKING, THINGS ARE FINALLY BEGINNING TO HAPPEN

I saw a pinkish sky through the trees when I pulled back our living room curtains this morning.  An encouraging way to start the day.  Feeling confident the Jeep's starting problem has been resolved, Pheebs and I piled into the Libbygator and it was off to Goderich we went.  Our stops this morning included McD's coffee, harbor, the Cove area, and Walmart.  Picked up a few groceries and then headed home with a stop at Richard and Gayles to see how they were doing.  We rolled into our driveway shortly after 11:30.

 THE ALGOMA CONVEYOR WAS IN PORT THIS MORNING TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME i HAVE SEEN THE MARIA G IN THE PORT OF GODERICH

 THE MARIA G IS A LARGE OCEAN GOING VESSEL

 A LONE CREW MEMBER WATCHES CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THE LOAD OF GRAIN IT IS LOADING WILL BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY IN THE SHIP'S HOLD

Our morning clouded over and it stayed that way for the rest of the day and at the time of posting this tonight it is raining.  I had to talk myself out the door this afternoon but once I was out there my energy levels kicked in and I was in full-blown puttering mode for the next couple of hours.  You might wonder what kind of puttering could keep a fella busy outside that long and I must say that I wonder that myself at times.  Yet, there is a whole host of things to do this time of year with Winter looming.  Taped up some outside light connections, three more wheelbarrow loads of pine needles raked and gathered up, two more frogs to the Park's pond and relocated some large rocks and a few wood stumps.  Checked the oil in both vehicles and topped up the windshield washer, plus a dozen other things I can't remember.  And keep in mind that there are noticeable time gaps along the way where I come to a stop between all these putterable things.  That stop is me aggravatingly trying to remember what it was I was going to do next.  Or it's that gap where I frustratingly spend time trying to remember where I left the shovel or the screwdriver, or my hat, or the wheelbarrow, or my frog fishing net, or my shoelaces.  On some days I simply can't remember where I have left my mind.  Then, it's a combination of aggravation and frustration that sets in and leaves me standing there in a quaking state of complete and absolute discaboobulation.  Believe me, you would not want to see me in a state of discaboobulation!!     

 IT IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING TO SEE SO MANY SENIORS OUT WALKING ALONG THE BOARDWALK

 YOU KNOW GEORGE, YOU COULD AT LEAST CHEER UP FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY

 I'M NOT AN ANIMAL, I AM A BIRD!!

 'NOPE, AND YA AIN'T GONNA MAKE ME PAY EITHER!!!!

 STAY WITHIN THE BUOYS GUYS

 PROBABLY THE LAST GRASS-CUTTING OF THE SEASON

Kelly was in touch with her liver transplant liaison lady at London's University Hospital this morning and was able to find out some info on her recent bile level tests.  In the one crucial test that the liver committee required, a normal number would be between 1 and 10.  Definitely not above 10.  Kelly's Dynacare number from last week was 71 and the number for the same test in London a few days ago was 86.  Amy, the liaison lady said she would call Kelly Monday afternoon with the results of the liver committee's decision after they meet Monday morning.  It's been a long slow process these past years, but it seems now that, medically speaking, things are finally beginning to positively happen.

 SPOTTED THESE HORSES ON THE WAY HOME

 ANOTHER BEAN FIELD DONE GONE

 FEELING A LITTLE SNOOZY

Al's Music Box:)) Sugartown by Nancy Sinatra was a single released in 1966.  This song was written by songwriter-producer Lee Hazelwood.  I like it because it's light and catchy.  You may very well find yourself humming it for the rest of the day:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A crumbling old church building needed remodeling, so, during his sermon, the preacher made an impassioned appeal looking directly at the richest man in town.  At the end of the sermon, the rich man stood up and announced, "Pastor, I will contribute $1,000."  Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder.  He promptly stood back up and shouted, "Pastor, I will increase my donation to $5,000."  Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, "Pastor, I will double my last pledge."He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell on his head.  He stood up once more and hollered, "Pastor, I will give $20,000!"  This prompted a deacon to shout, "Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!"

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What’s way worse than Friday the 13th?
Monday the whatever.

How do you know that it’s Friday the 13th?
Everyone will tell you.

I grilled a chicken for two hours...
It still wouldn't tell me why it crossed the road.

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I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the Super Wal-Mart Shopping Center and rolled down the car windows to make sure my Labrador Retriever Pup had fresh air.
She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the curb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically, "Now you stay. Do you hear me?"  "Stay! Stay!"  The driver of a nearby car gave me a strange look and said,  "Why don't you just put it in park?"

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