A LONG WAIT TO SEE THE LIVER DOCTOR TODAY AND KELLY 'ACES' HER PHYSIO TESTS AGAIN

This fine September morning reminded me so much of another fine weather September morning on September 11th 2001.  Like millions of others, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing on that morning........Pheebs and I headed off to Goderich earlier today.  Coffee, harbor, Pet Value, and Canadian Tire to set up a date to have a trailer hitch installed on the Subaru.

 THE ALGOMA BUFFALO SITTING HIGH IN THE WATER TIED UP IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GODERICH'S HARBOR

 A QUIET MOMENT ALONG THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON

 WE CAME ACROSS A CLUSTER OF GULLS 

Home again I edited this morning's photos and then it was time to head for London's University Hospital.  Kelly and I rolled out of the driveway at high noon and a little over an hour later we parked Subie in the hospital's parking garage.  Entering the hospital we headed for the 4th floor where Kelly promptly had her blood work done.  We were early so we headed for the lounge across from the elevator whereupon Kelly showed me how to get on-line with her iPad.  I had brought my headphones and the idea was to hook up to the hospital's free WiFi and then find my favorite online music site Soma FM.  Without too much trouble I soon had Groove Salad ambient music wafting through my headphones.  From the lounge, we moved to the liver clinic waiting room where Kelly was soon taken off to do her Physio tests.  Twenty minutes later she was back with a big smile.  'AGAIN' she aced her physical tests with no problem despite being in grim shape just a month ago when she was hospitalized.  The physio lady was very pleased with her condition.  Next came a face-to-face meeting with one of the leading liver doctors, a Doctor Hudson.  That appointment was for 2:10 but it was 4 p.m. before we got in to see him.  He too was pleased with Kellys physio tests.  She weighed in at 108 pounds which is up from 101 pounds three weeks ago.  Doctor Hudson was hopeful that Kelly was not far away from a liver transplant.  She's right up near the top of the list and he said it's just a question of time.  Being a small person he also said the biggest problem is getting a liver small enough to fit her. If they do get one, Kelly is high enough on the list to get the call.  So, 'one day at a time' we'll wait and see what happens.  One of the interns said to Kelly on the way out, 'I hope the next time we see you will be in the transplant room'.  If not, her next physio clinic appointment will be in early December.....It was 4:30 when we finally made it back to the car and launched into a traffic jam right inside the parking garage.  There was trouble ahead and it took us 20 minutes to reach the outer gate where the arm goes up except the arm wouldn't go up for us.  The arm wouldn't go up for the car in the other lane either.  With probably 20 cars lined up behind us, I was about ready to lay a beating on the parking ticket pay machine.  Kelly saved the day by quickly getting out of the car and coming around to the machine.  With a lady's help from the car behind us they finally got somebody's voice in the machine to communicate with.  The lady in the car in the other lane was shouting 'let me out of here let me out of here!!!! I later said to Kelly that the lady beside us was really panicking.  Kelly, in her calm and loving way quietly inferred to me that I wasn't far behind her.  Okay, I'll take that one.  When we finally got off the hospital grounds we landed right smack in the middle of London's 5 o'clock rush and it probably took us another twenty minutes to go a couple miles just to clear ourselves out the north end of London.  A quick stop at Tim Hortons in Lucan for coffee and some munchies to go.  We made it home shortly after 6 p.m.  Ahhhhhhh, I am sooooo glad we do not live in or near any kind of a city!!

 WAITING IN THE WAITING ROOM.....UNFORTUNATELY, THE AUTO-FOCUS FOCUSED ON ME AND NOT KELLY

 FROM THE TIME WE GOT TO THE WAITING ROOM TO THE TIME WE FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE DOCTOR WAS OVER TWO HOURS

 WITH THE iPAD WIFI SUPPLYING MY SOMA FM MUSIC TO THE HEADPHONES I AM ABLE TO READ MY KINDLE WITH SOFT MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND DEADENING ANY OUTSIDE NOISE

WAITING FOR KELLY TO FINISH HER PHYSIO TESTS

IN THE INNER WAITING ROOM WHERE WE GOT TO SEE THE DOCTOR....WE SAT HERE FOR NEARLY AN HOUR

A Blast From Our Past:)) Through The Apache Pass To Fort Bowie  March 11, 2009

 THIS GULL IS HAVING ITSELF A GOOD SQUAWK

Al's Music Box:)) Don't Leave Me On My Own is a song by Christ Isaak (born June 26, 1956) who is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and occasional actor. Noted for his reverb-laden rockabilly revivalist style and wide vocal range, he is popularly known for his breakthrough hit and signature song "Wicked Game" as well as international hits such as "Blue Hotel", "Baby Did a Bad Thing" and "Somebody's Crying".  With a career spanning four decades, Isaak has released a total of 13 studio albums, toured extensively with his band Silvertone, and received numerous award nominations. His sound and image are often compared to those of Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, and Duane Eddy.  Isaak is closely associated with film director David Lynch, who has used his music in numerous films. As an actor, he played supporting roles and bit parts in films such as Married to the Mob, The Silence of the Lambs, Little Buddha, That Thing You Do! and Lynch's Twin Peaks and Fire Walk with Me.  He also starred in two television series: the sitcom The Chris Isaak Show and the talk show The Chris Isaak Hour.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Elaine went to visit the much-heralded local fortune-teller.  In a dark and hazy room, peering into a crystal ball, the mystic delivered grave news: "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just be blunt - prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year."  Visibly shaken, Elaine stared at the woman's haggard face, then at the single, flickering candle, then down at her hands.  She took a few deep breaths to compose herself. She simply had to know. She met the fortune teller's gaze, steadied her voice and asked, "Will I be acquitted?"

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 “A cannonball is a party for artillerymen.”

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“I’m worried about you always being at the bottom of your class,” said the father to his son.  “Don’t worry Dad,” he replied. “They still teach the same thing at both ends.”

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"A small boy is sent to bed by his mother...

"Mom"...
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring me a glass of water?"
"No. You had your chance. Lights out."
[Five minutes later]
"Mom..."
"WHAT?"
"I'm THIRSTY... Can I have a glass of water?"
"I told you NO! If you ask again I'll have to spank you!!"
[Five minutes later]
"Mom..."
"WHAT??!!"
"When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a glass of water?"

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IN SEARCH OF A FEW SPIDERY WEBS

Quite a change from Monday morning's windy cold overcast to this morning's sunshine, warmth, and calm air.  Pheebs and I took advantage of that change and headed off down the road watching for spidery webs along the way.  It's that time of year when the cool night's heavy due coats spider webs with diamond-like water drops.  Morning's sunshine backlights those shimmering spider webs making for true wonders of nature, so Pheebs and I set off in search of a few spidery webs. 

With a pleasant coolness in the air, I didn't figure there would be any Mosquitoes out and about so we made our way to the Bannockburn Conservation Area.  I figured right and we were not pestered by flying insects.  The Bannockburn Conservation Area is a true Huron County gem with its creeks, forests, hills, and a winding boardwalk meandering its way across a swampy area via an old iron walking bridge.  Great hiking trails here and it's a splendid way to spend time surrounded by Nature's many wonders.  Here's a link to the many things to be seen along the way...Points Of Interest

 WE HEAD OFF INTO THE FOREST

 MORNING'S SOFT GLOW

 I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN PHEEBS LEADS THE WAY

 THE SHADOW COWBOY WAVES FROM THE OLD IRON BRIDGE WALKWAY

 MORE SPIDER WEBS ON THE IRON BRIDGE

I was glad to see Pheebs up for the walk and she was running around here and there checking out all the neat smells everywhere.  Earlier this morning when Kelly took her out she didn't want to go any further than the end of the driveway.  I think she gets a little board along the Park's roads sometimes.  And, speaking of the Park's roads.....a little bird told me this morning that plans may be in the works for the paving of those roads:))

Home again, I edited the morning's photos then headed outside to get the late Summer yard clean-up underway.  Kept steadily at it for just over an hour before the rising humidity scampered me back into the cool house.  Looks like we have warmer weather settling in with some daytime highs pushing 80F by the look of it.  I might not get as much yardwork done over the next couple of weeks as had I figured on.

Finished my last Kindle book a few days ago and I must say I did enjoy it.  If you are interested in NDE's (Near Death Experiences) but don't know much about it, this book might be a good place to start.  The book is Beyond NDE's: The Next Step in Near-Death Experience Research by author Lynn K. Russell.  A fascinating and enlightening subject to say the least and this book marks the 19th book I have read on this subject in the past couple years.  Carrying this a step further I've also decided to look into another question I've always had.  What about animals?  What about our Pets?  Is there an afterlife for them?  I am currently reading Evidence of Animal Afterlife by author Edward Anderson and so far it is proving most interesting and enlightening.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we head back to London's University Hospital where Kelly will undergo another liver-related Physio Test, plus bloodwork and a face-to face-clinic with the Chief liver Doctor.  Maybe we'll learn something new, something encouraging.  We could sure use a Doctor's words of encouragement right about now.....

Al's Music Box:)) Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gauio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio's Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week, making it Valli's biggest solo hit until he hit No. 1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"."  Gaudio describes the song as "the one that almost got away" until Windsor, Ontario, radio station CKLW (a station also serving the Detroit metro on the American side of the border) intervened. In 1967, the record's producers urged Paul Drew, program director at the legendary station, to consider the tune for rotation. For much of the 1960s and 1970s, CKLW was credited with launching hit records via its powerful signal, blanketing the Great Lakes region. Drew did not warm to the song at first, but accepted an invitation to hear it live at the Roostertail, where Valli was performing a weeklong stint with the Four Seasons. Drew liked what he heard and added the song to his station's playlist. "The switchboards lit up, and the rest, as they say, is history", Gaudio recalled.  Valli recalled in 2014 that "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was the first step in the fulfillment of his goal to sing music that did not require him to use falsetto: "I didn't want to sing like that my whole life. Once we established the sound, the plan was that eventually I would do solo [records] and some things I really wanted to do. I was very lucky to make the transition to 'My Eyes Adored You' and 'Swearin' to God', which had none of that." Valli also recalled that the record had been mothballed by The Four Seasons' record company for a year because of their fear that The Four Seasons (who had already lost Nick Massi in 1965) were breaking up, to which Valli insisted that he had no intentions of ever leaving The Four Seasons.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Letters to God from Little Boys::

Dear God, Why is Sunday School on Sunday? I thought it was supposed to be our day of rest. Tom L.

Dear God, I went to this wedding on Sunday and they kissed right in the church! Is that O.K.?  Neil

Dear God, If you watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes. Mickey D.

Dear God, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Bruce

Dear God, If you give me a genie lamp like in Aladdin, I will give you anything you want, except my money or my chess set. Raphael

Dear God, Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Greg

Dear God, Please send Dennis Clark to another camp this summer. Peter

Dear God, You don't have to worry about me. I look both ways. Dean

Dear God, Are you really invisible or is that just a trick? Doug

Dear God, I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big but not with so much hair. Sam 

Dear God, I am American. What are you? Robert

Dear God, If you didn't let the dinosaurs become extinct, we wouldn't have this country. You did the right thing. Jonathan

Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. Larry

Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well, I just want you to know that I am not saying that because you are God already. Charles

Dear God,I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Thursday. That was cool! Eugene
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- Exercise works best first thing in the morning before your brain figures out what you're doing.

- Men don't care what's on TV. They only care what else is on TV.

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Having lost weight over the past few years, a lady was discarding things from her wardrobe that no longer fit. Her seven-year-old niece was watching as she held up a huge pair of slacks.  "Wow," the lady said, "I must have worn these when I was 185."  Her niece looked puzzled, then asked, "How old are you now?"
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