May 20, 2010 - Msg 79154: Thank you Ro and SPOT. :-)

I am up checking the email and such and wishing I were sawing logs. Poor Erin has been up most of the night with a stomach virus...I have been taking Vitamin C....well, maybe she will sleep it off later today and I can get a nap. Ooops, I hear her heaving, poor baby. Don't you just love those stomach viruses that go around in the spring?!

Boo
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79155: I am so glad you are sweeping that virus off of the porch - hope Erin is feeling better soon.

Boo - I totally relate to you about your dad. My mom is beginning to slip and she can't remember anything. It is hard to see them slipping away. . .my mom will be 86 is August.

Take care - hugs and more hugs. . . .

hm
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79156: Please add my nephew's wife to your prayer list - she is about 30 and she has lupus. She is the mommy to a beautiful 2 year old Aubry June. She is going to have a heart catherization tomorrow. The medication that she has been on has enlarged her heart. She is a strong Christian as is her husband.

Thanks in advance. . .

hm
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79157: Prayers for your nephew's wife, hm. And I hope Casey makes it through ok with his foot troubles-bless his heart.

Praying for your dad as well, Boo.

Laci got her hearing aids yesterday. My daughter says she fights like "a wild rabid animal" when they put them in, but you can immediately see Laci's little face light up,as she is hearing things she's never been able to before.Welcome to the world of sound, baby girl! I can't wait to see her this weekend- I'm sure she won't care for my singing anymore,now that she'll be able to really hear me- LOL

Talk to y'all later- oh, and sure hope Erin shakes off that stomach bug,poor lil' thing!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79158: Thank you for the sympathy, HM...this is not an easy time in life watching parents get older and sicker while dealing with the problems of the children at home. I think, though, that this time can be a real character building experience and a BIG lesson in patience!! ;-) My prayers for your niece who is dealing with Lupus...may all go well with the cath.

Speaking of heart trouble...Bruce came home early from work yesterday complaining of some pressure in his chest because he "forgot" to take his medicine since Monday. He said the last time he forgot for a couple of days the same thing happened and I think it is related to his blood pressure being up. As soon as he takes it, things are fine again. I called the cardiologist office and told them that I think he needs to have the other blockage in that same artery evaluated now instead of waiting a month. The doctor is supposed to let me know. When the nurse called me, she practically chewed me out on the phone because he had missed his medicine. I told her that I have been taking my medicine everyday for years and nobody has to tell me to take it but I guess I will have to put it in a 52 yr old man's hand every night! Bruce told me he has been doing well about taking it but when I went to refill them, I could tell that they were overdue so he has been missing doses. One of his meds is Pl@vix (funny, Pl@vix wouldn't get past the sensor), which is to prevent a clot from forming in that new stint! I just don't get how he can keep forgetting something so important. Yesterday I told him not to go work on the fence even after he was feeling better. He told me in his irritated way, "I'm fine. I'll be fine." and that is when I unloaded...I told him he had lied to me before about being "fine" and he almost died so I said, "Don't ever tell me you are going to be fine again! Tell me you are going to be careful..or smart..but don't ever tell me you are going to be fine because you DON'T know that and you have proven it in the past!"...Oh, that man is so frustrating sometimes. He did NOT work on the fence yesterday, though, so maybe he is getting some sense about all of this. I have been praying for him for the past week that he would change his attitude about things. I can't change him, only God can, but he has got to come to terms with his stressful thinking and the way he pushes himself or he will not live long. He just cannot seem to enjoy anything in life because he is always waiting for everything to be "just so"...when this is finished, or that is done, I will be able to relax and enjoy life. Well, that is hogwash. You have to grab the joy in life whenever you can get it. I mean, here he is with a good job, a good income, a nice home, two healthy children, a good wife (well, for the most part), and eternal life ahead of him. I tell him that THIS is the best part of our lives and you are throwing it away worrying and waiting for everything to be perfect. Everyday of my life I am thankful and looking for the blessings God has given me. I am not always joyful but I try to think positively and remind myself daily of all God has done for me. The older I get the more I see the benefits of thankfulness and especially of humor and making the most of each day...if only Bruce could do that. He is the most driven person I know, personally. Sorry, I have probably said all this before more than once, but thanks for listening. You know, last night I was watching one of my favorite old movies with Glenn Ford called "Ransom" about a wealthy couple whose 8 yr old son is kidnapped and eventually returned due to his very wise father's actions. The end scene when Glenn Ford goes into the backyard to grieve alone for his son, who everyone presumes is dead, he is sitting by the unfinished clubhouse they were planning to finish together that weekend and he just breaks down and starts to cry. His whole world is shattered when he hears a small voice say, "Daddy...Daddy, it's me..."...the kidnappers had released the child and there he was. The joy of that scene when the child is returned to his father! It's amazing and all you can think about is the joy of that moment..finding the child you thought was gone forever and nothing else matters, not money, or anything else...only having that child back in his arms. If only we could live our lives each day so aware of what might have happened that didn't, with the realization that our loved ones are with us and safe and what else matters? In spite of all the problems in this world, there is still so much to be thankful for because God is still good.

So, I am thinking about my Dad coming to the end of his journey and concerned with my husband's health, too. I am very thankful to have them both right now.

Good for LACI! Being able to hear better might make a huge difference for her....uh, don't sing to her yet Possum...let her get used to them first...hehe ;-)

Erin finally seems to be feeling better but she has been heaving and moaning and groaning for almost 12 hours. When she gets up she still feels nauseous but is able to keep water down now. Thank God these stomach bugs seem to be short-lived though they feel like an eternity while you have them!

Better go see about Erin...I think she is asleep on the couch, poor little squirt.

Boo
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79159: Wow, sorry about the novel, folks.

Boo
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79160:
Possum- yes it's true that your version of 14-A
makes barney sound like a vertuoso! haha
MDC
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79161: Good morning, porch. Boo, don't ever apologize for expressing what's in your heart. We want to know, so we can pray with you and offer a measure of support.

It must be terribly frustrating for you when Bruce "forgets" to take his medicine. Take it from another rebellious, medication-dependent person, though - sometimes you just don't want to take it! Stupid, yes. I know that, of course. However, one night a few weeks ago I went to bed early and realized I hadn't taken my long-acting insulin. Instead of getting up and going to the kitchen and taking the dose, I told myself I didn't really need it, that it didn't make that much difference, etc. The next morning my blood sugar was approaching 300, and I got a dose of reality. I spent the rest of the day taking incremental doses of short-acting insulin to manage the sugar level, and I hope I learned something. I think men are even worse about it than women - they take dependence on a medication as a sign of weakness or something, the poor dears.

So, if he "forgets", what can you do to make sure he doesn't? How does he shave? Electric razor? Store it in such a way that his access to it is blocked by his pill bottles. Or tape a little box to his bathroom mirror at about eye level, and keep the bottles in it. Probably best of all, just hand him his pills when you take yours, and watch to be sure he actually takes them. True, you shouldn't have to do that with a grown man, but obviously you do, so do it, because you love him.

Well, time for a bit of lunch, then a nap, then to work tonight. Prayers for Erin, and for Laci, and for Aubry June's mom, and for Casey's foot. Praying for one another is just another way we reflect the TAGS spirit. We know the residents of Mayberry did that - remember when Aunt Bee told the tipsy Otis, "Oh, Otis! And I prayed for you, too!" --Romeena
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79162:
Boo- There you go "GlenFording' all over the place again! ha But also making these old eyes well-up! Now tell us how you REALLY feel! teehee
One idea may be a weekly "pill box." My Cecile suggested one to me several years ago when i had to start with the heart and BP meds, and i said, "Those are for OLD people!" to which she said, "Well, you ARE gettin OLD, ya nut!"
So, I have my S M T W T F S box, and each day the next "letter" better be empty after breakfast or my dear wife sidles up to me with box and water glass in hand.
Just a thought!
I hope REV and wife are behaving themselves on vacation, er, well I guess it wouldnt be a vacation if they were! ha
Prayers for all! I will appreciate yours on Tuesday.
Steve
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79163:
OOPS! that's MDC
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79164:
RO- you sidled in there too! ha
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79165: MDC, you're in my prayers every day,but I will ramp 'em up for you on Tuesday. Oh, the letter I sent to Pappa Bear came back to me today. If you know his new address,please e-mail it to me when you get a chance- thanks!
***********
possum again
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79166: And Ro, remember what Otis said in reply to Aunt Bee when she said she prayed for him. "I seen temptation coming, but it seen me coming too."
- Hazel
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79167: HAHA...Hazel, I watched the ep "Keeper of the Flame" yesterday when Barney asks Andy if he wants him to interrogate Opie. He tells Andy that he is good at interrogating people and was able to find out that Otis was drunk when he came in to the courthouse. Andy says something like, "Well, of course, he came through the door on all floors saying there was an elephant behind him"..or something like that. Sean and I really laughed at that part. I had forgotten about it because I hadn't seen that ep in a long time.

Thanks, MDC...I will get a pillbox for my "old nut" and stick it somewhere that he will be sure to find it...hahaha...I don't mean that the way it sounded! Prayers for Tuesday.

Thank you for the prayers and encouragement, Ro my good friend.

Think I will grab a shower and a cup of coffee and try to get rid of this headache I seem to have after my nap.

Boo
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79168: "fours" that is.
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79169: Gosh, I guess I thought everyone used pill boxes! I've been using them for years - I even have a "Morning" set and an "Evening" set. Guess that makes me positively ancient. Seriously, though, those boxes are the only way I can keep it straight. Besides, it beats standing there opening a zillion pill bottles every morning and evening. Just fill 'em all at once, and you're done. I have two of each, so make up two weeks' worth at a time.

I'm just sitting here, looking out at my yard, and marveling that there's not a trace of cottonwood flying back there. In some parts of town, it looks like there has been a snowstorm, and my yard was that way too, once upon a time. Then I met Romaldo and his tree-climbers, and it's just amazing. How on earth those young men can climb in those huge trees and cut out EVERY BIT of the cotton buds, I don't know, but they do. No cotton flying here!

Well, I just found out why my plumeria tree doesn't bloom, beyond the occasional little blossom. I just spotted Mr. Bushytail out there, going from branchtip to branchtip, nibbling off the tender little buds! That little furry marauder! Of all the nerve! And there's not a dadburn thing I can do about it, either. I put out feed for them, even fresh fruit now and then, and this is how he repays me! He eats my plumeria blossoms! Sorry little critter....

Well, gotta get ready for work. I'm going to fool around here and be late. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
May 20, 2010 - Msg 79170: Evening Family:

Just checking in and reading all the postings. Don't you just love warm weather? With all the flowers blooming and trees budding, squirrels marauding, lambs running and playing. The farm is just teeming with life!!!

oh, yea, 2 graduates in the house! One from college and the youngest from High School.

Life is really good. Praying for all the needs on the porch. ~New Neighbor
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79171: Possum, I'll bet she'll think your singing is the most beautiful thing she's ever heard of in the world.

Boo, I heard something on a Christian radio station just the other day about worrying about this and that. The preacher said that there is a reason God reminds us not to worry. Because when you do, you are not leaning on Him, and He wants you to, because it will bring you closer to Him.
I don't think I expressed it as well as he did, but hopefully you'll know what I am talking about. And maybe you can remind Bruce to forget about fretting about things being "perfect" and just lean on the One who has the perfect plan for him.
Right now I am thinking about the Darling's singing "Leaning on the everlasting arms" under that tree in the episode where I think Barney was almost betrothed to Ernest T. Bass. ;)

Congrats on your graduates, NN!

-Sterling Holobyte
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79172:
"and I wouldnt marry you in a million years" or something like that! ha Well put Sterling!
Hey there NN. Yes indeed, congrats all around!
I've got two nephews who will be doctors as of next week! and not the PhD kind, but the D.O. kind!
G'night all,
MDC
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79173: Thanks for that word, Sterling. I will have a talk with Bruce.

Congratulations on them spart critters, NN! It made me very happy to see that your wrote "Life is good"...I just love to read that.

MDC, that line goes, "I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth!" and I laugh every time I see that episode...its a great one.
So, you have 2 nephews who will be DOs? That's great.

Erin is doing much better and finally got rid of the fever but she will stay home today and recover. She just ate something for the first time and seems chipper this morning. Please pray the rest of us don't get the darned virus.

Better get some chores done.

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79174: What? You don't know what a "spart critter" is you say?....sorry, I mean "smart" of course. :-)

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79175: Oh, forgot to mention that the kids and i watched "The Loaded Goat" episode last night in honor of our soon-to-be goat friends...they should be here by next weekend. I'll tell you, that Loaded Goat ep is some of the best writing of any ep, I think. We sure laugh at it. I love the scene with Otis when he noticed the goat in his cell...."Uncle Nat?...what are you doing here?"...The way he looks at that goat is just hilarious. Or, remember, "Play your french harp, Barn"..."What?"..."I said play your french harp"..."Andy, are you havin' a spell?"...hahaha

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79176:
Sterling, I know it wasn't directed at me but thanks for post Msg 79171.

auh2o
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79177: Prayers for you Boo with your dad and Bruce.I'll be prayin for you too MDC,hope your surgery goes well. On my way to work,just wanted to stop by the porch and say Hi-ky girl
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79178: I love "The Loaded Goat" episode too, Boo. It's another one that makes me laugh out loud. Were you watching it on TV Land or do you have the DVD? Because on TV Land, they always cut out one of the scenes of Otis trying to jump on that mattress, which is propped up against the wall. He thinks it's on the floor, and he's trying to lay down on it, but jumps on the one against the wall, and flops back down on the floor... anyhow, he trys to get on it twice, but TV Land cuts out one of them. One of the funnier Otis moments, in my opinion. That show also has my very favorite epilouge. Where Mayor Stoner and Hudge hear a blast, and think that Barney and Andy have gone blewey. And get all teary-eyed and then Barney and Andy turn out to be in the room afterall. Hudge: "the little feller was nice too..."
- Hazel
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79179: Afternoon Porchsters:

It's an absolutely beautiful day on this side of the porch. The sun is finally shining and the temps are out of the 50's . It's just plain hard to know how to dress when the temps one day are 90 and the next 50.

Thanks for all the prayers and congrats headed this way. The kids have done so well... this is one proud mamma.

Was going to mow, but the belts are off the mower deck...well, don't ya just hate when that happens? Guess I'll settle in for a TAGS episode or 2! Sounds like a plan to me. Blessing to you all. ~New Neighbor
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79180: God is the director, auh2o. But you're very welcome anyway.

I thought of something after my last post, in that I don't want you all to think I have it all together and don't worry about things. In fact, if you are members of this porch you know that wouldn't be true anyway. ;)
It was just what that preacher said on the radio spoke to me and I wanted to try to remember it so I could implement it in my life when things get tough and I worry about what has happened or what could happen.

-Sterling Holobyte

May 21, 2010 - Msg 79181: I know, HAZEL, I love the scene with OTIS. I watched it on DVD so I got it all: "That's a first. I've never fallen outta bed and onto the wall before!"....hehehe

Don't worry about it, Sterling...we are all in the same sorry state in this life! ha...no perfect people here but there are alot of us that like to give advice (me) and sometimes it is even pretty good, like your's was. ;-) Trying to overcome worry is a lifetime journey for most of us. We get better at it, hopefully, but the threat is always there.

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79182:
I heard or read that the actor who played Otis was not a drinker at all in real life. Anyone know if that is true?
And, when you think about it, depending on how many "takes" it took to film that one, that poor guy may have had to fall on the floor several times to get it right! Some guys like dick vandyke are good with pratfalls, but not too sure about poor ole Otis!
Well, have a good day all. It's FRIDAY!
ABP FOR TOM, MAVIS, ADELLE, BIG MAUDE, SPOT, PH AND ALL!
God bless,
MDC
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79183: According to Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, Hal did not drink in real life, MDC. That's from Wikipedia, so you can take what you want from that. So I guess the question remains. :)

-Sterling Holobyte
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79184: According to Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, Hal did not drink in real life, MDC. That's from Wikipedia, so you can take what you want from that. So I guess the question remains. :)

-Sterling Holobyte
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79185: Oops, didn't mean to chew my cabbage twice(especially since I don't like cabbage).
Dumb new laptop.

-SH
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79186:
Sterling, I think that is "proof" enough. And
that's right, Hal Smith was his name.
KY girl's treating us all to Cracjer Barrel tonight!
Pass the Saspirilla!
MDC
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79187:
Ha! Made myself laugh! "Cracjer" is that new cajun place!? teehee
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79188: I thought I smelled cabage....

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79189: cabbage, I mean...
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79190: What's a "cabage"? Anything like a moulage? ;)

-Sterling Holobyte

May 21, 2010 - Msg 79191: Good one, Sterling..

I have a funny donkey story to tell you all. Bruce had to work late this evening so was really tired when he got home. Right now, we have a gate at our front entrance that you have to get out and open, pull the car through, and then get out and close (someday we will have an automatic gate opener I hope). Its been a real pain lately because if the donkey is anywhere around, she will try to get out. Today when Bruce opened the gate and pulled his truck through, he saw Thelma Lou the donkey coming toward the gate at full speed, determined to get out and into the street. He quickly threw his truck into park (or so he thought) and jumped out to close the gate ahead of Thelma Lou. Well, he looked back and his truck was traveling down the driveway on its own so he had to leave the gate and run as fast as he could to try to catch the truck. He managed to jump in and stop it right before it hit a tree, then he had to go out and fetch the donkey back into the fence. I wish I had a video of it! Poor Bruce (Pa Kettle) ;-) It's always something around here with these animals.

Boo
May 21, 2010 - Msg 79192: Hey gang..NN belts off the mower what will you think of next!..hey possum,Boo,Sterling,Ro,MDC...Truck race is on gang....well let me get the reports ran here at work...SPOT
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79193: Mornin' Y'all! Sterling,thanks for those sweet words.I had my first encounter with Laci yesterday since she got the hearing aids.Wish y'all could have seen her- I started talking to her when she got out of the car and she giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me so tightly! Ol' possum was teary eyed for sure! I loved watching her reaction to different things- her musical toys, wind chimes,voices, all sorts of things that had only sounded like whispers were coming through loud and clear. I can already tell she is more vocal. I feel confident that given time she will begin chattering up a storm! Thank God for the technology that has opened up the world of sound to her. I am blessed to share her awakening.

LOL @ Pa Kettle and the donkey!

Well, let me get going around here. Y'all meet me down at the Diner for breakfast. Yes, spot, we'll send you a plate!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79194: Oh Possum, that is so wonderful! I'm so glad you are there to share the experience with Laci. :-)

See you at the Diner, Possum...my treat in celebration of Laci's new world of sound.

Boo
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79195: Boo, I keep my pill box right next to where I eat. As a result, I never forget to take them.
As an added precaution, why not create an 8" x 11" paper sign indicating "PILLS"? Then post this sign either on the door Bruce uses to exit the house from or on the bathroom door that he uses.
I get my pills refilled at WalMart. And each time, they supply me with typed documentation about each of the pills, including the importance of not skipping a dose and what to do if you do skip a dose. If you also receive this typed information, make sure Bruce reads them.

Romeena, why not install netting over your plumeria tree to protect the buds? You may have to install extenders so the rodent can't reach through.

Unfortunately, unlike some of you, I don't own TAGS on DVD's so I must rely on TVLand to view the episodes. At least I have two options: on my cable system, and at their web site.

Speaking about Otis and his drinking, I'm trying to remember if he limited his drinking to just the weekends or every day of the week. Does anyone know?
Also, did they ever mention what Otis did for a living?

MDC, congratulations on having two new D.O.'s in your extended family. As I have posted before, I switched my family doctor from an M.D. to a D.O. and have never regreted that decision.

from Poor Horatio
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79196:
PH - There is one ep, it think with the 4 moonshiners when Otis comes in and andy says someting about it not even being the weekend or something like that.
This has been an E crowley pass thru!!...
MDC
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79197: Good evening, porch. I just got up from sleeping most of the day, after working two 12 hr night shifts back to back. Believe me, I'm not as young as I used to be. Those double-headers take a toll on me, especially when they're as wild and woolly as the last two nights were. Mercy!

I may be changing jobs soon. The rumor mill has it that there's going to be a major change in our job description, one that I'm not willing to accept. Will find out for sure at a mandatory departmental conference on Wednesday morning. If confirmed, I will very likely resign pretty quickly. I hate it, after thirty-one years at that hospital, but I'm not willing to do what they're wanting to do. So - I may look into taking a job with a Hospice organization. Not a bad gig - one patient at a time, usually in a home or a nursing home room, and flexible hours, and I've always liked geriatrics, which would describe most hospice patients. Well, we'll see.

There were several brief references on the shows to Otis being a weekend binge-er. It was never discussed outright, but passing remarks on several occasions definitely left that impression. As for his occupation, didn't he work at the furniture factory, as a glue-dipper or some such?

Great Thelma Lou the Donkey story, Boo! I can just see Bruce running after that truck. Glad he didn't get hurt when he caught it.

MDC, I don't think putting a net over the plumeria would work, but thanks for the suggestion. I don't know if you're familiar with plumeria trees, but they're weird things. Their branches are quite brittle, in fact that's how they propagate. Sections break off and fall to the ground, where they take root and grow another tree. Nurseries just break off a limb and chop it into pieces and plant the pieces, and have lots of new plants. The leaves grow sort of umbrella-fashion, out on the tips of the branches, and would probably be rubbed or broken off by a net. Most plumerias you see will be about three feet tall, but mine is about eight feet. It has been very happy in its big pot, and I take it into the garage each winter, as they don't tolerate the cold at all. Attaching extenders would likely break the branches and wouldn't be very esthetically pleasing either. I guess I'll just have to hope that an occasional flower bud will escape little Razorteeth's attention. God definitely knew what He was doing when He made squirrels so cute.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some grub. Anybody got any good leftovers? I've got some English pea salad, but that's all. Sure is good, though. I love the stuff, especially with my "secret ingredient". Hmm. Wonder what I could find to go with it?

Be blessed, friends. Don't forget preaching' tomorrow! I got some new dangly earrings to wear! --Romeena
May 22, 2010 - Msg 79198: Romeena, I am interested in what kind of changes they are trying to make in your unit. Hate to see you have to change jobs now but I understand. Gosh, I wish you could retire.

Well, I have to tell the story about the "citizen's arrest" that Sean and I made this afternoon. I'll start by telling that my niece had a little baby duck that was going to die after being tossed out by its original owner and niece couldn't keep it due to her big dogs...same problem I have but we took the baby duck (talk about cute!) and I took it to the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, to the bird sanctuary there and they are going to raise him until he is old enough to go live on a farm with another family of ducks. Anyway..on our way back from Port Aransas we have to take a ferry across. After getting off the ferry to head home, there was a car ahead of us that was weaving in the lane and even weaving into the oncoming traffic lane. This guy barely escaped killing himself or someone else so as soon as I was able to safely get close enough for Sean to get his license number I called the police and gave a description and license number and a little while later they called to say they had caught the guy and wanted me to meet with the arresting officer to fill out a statement. The officer was the funniest little guy...kind of like Barney and I enjoyed talking with him because he had the best sense of humor! He said the guy was very drunk and that they had nabbed him at a liquor store up the road, buying more alcohol...how crazy is that? The guy must have a death wish or be so drunk that his neurons can no longer fire! Anyhoo, Sean and I felt a little like Gomer today but we did NOT tell anyone to "run up and alley and holler fish!". Story over.

Niece Amy and I took all the kiddos to see the new Shrek movie today. It was cute and funny in parts but there were some questionable things in it that I just don't understand why they would include in a kid's movie. In the very first scene, there is a scene with a g@y witch, then there is the "Queen of Hearts", which is a transgendered fellow. Also, there was more than one scene involving the use of alcohol by the Shrek character. Now why is that at all needed in a kid's movie? Crazy. It sure is a shame that you can't even escape that sort of thing in a movie made for children.

Busy day...time to unwind and maybe get a shower.

Boo
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79199: Hey, porch. Just passin' by on the way to the ironing board.

Boo, what they're trying to do at work is combine postpartum and nursery services, and have us all doing mother/baby care. I realize that a lot of hospitals do that, and it works for them, I suppose. However, we have always had separate nursery services with their baby care staff, and postpartum services, with nurses who just do mom care. Our unit was built on that premise - physical construction, I mean - and then later the annex unit was incorporated, which is on the other side of nursery from the main postpartum unit, and the first room is a good fifty feet away. It's awkward and inconvenient to say the least, and potentially very dangerous. Also, on the annex unit we usually have one or two med/surg patients (overflow from the units) and some of them are not the cleanest cases you could wish for. I had one last night that was infected, had drains everywhere, etc. Imagine if in the room next door I was also caring for a mom/baby couplet!

There will be a minimal staff of nurses who remain in the nursery, but all moms will be strongly encouraged to "room in", meaning keep their babies in their room at all times. With our disproportionately high number of C-section patients, gorked out on pain meds, this is going to be a problem. We will be responsible for doing the heel sticks and other labs, hearing screens, set up for circumcisions and other procedures, all of which are done in the nursery. So what will be happening to our moms and the rest of the babies while we're fifty to a hundred feet down the hall, closed up in the locked nursery? We'll still be responsible for them too.

This was tried about ten years ago, it flopped miserably and about half the staff - good, well-trained, experienced people - walked out and went elsewhere. It lasted about four months. I rode it out that time, but hated every minute of it. Now we have a new broom at the helm in the nursing admin office, and she's just full of ideas. She's one of those people who, when she meets resistance, just digs in deeper, and I don't think she'll back down on this. She hasn't stood at a bedside in years, and it shows. So, I'll keep my mouth shut and start looking for something else. Maybe this is the Lord giving me a nudge into something I'll enjoy, with a bit more freedom.

Good for you for rescuing the little duck. Aren't they just the cutest little things? Baby chicks are cute, but baby ducks are adorable, with their little ducky bills and big webbed feet. And congrats on the citizen's arrest. You probably saved a life with that 911 call. Hooray for you!

Well, guess I'll mosey on. Preachin' is at 8:15, so guess I'd better get to bed, before I meet myself getting up! Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79200: Well, I can certainly relate, Ro. When I started out in L&D I was working at the original Spohn on Shoreline Drive and it was the wonderful, old-fashioned labor unit with labor rooms, recovery room, then send the patient to the post-partum ward. Well, after I had been there for 10 years, the powers that be decided that all babies should be delivered on the south side of town where the "paying" patients with insur@nce were located and we all had to move across town and the L&D on Shoreline was closed down (it is still closed 17 yrs later). Well, the new, state-of-the art hospital made some big changes that just didn't work. The L&D unit was a big LDRP unit in which the pt was to labor, deliver, recover and spend post partum in the same room...oh, with mother/baby care. It was total chaos and horrible on the nurses. They took away our housekeeping staff, lab staff and tried to bring about what they called "Patient-Focused Care"...oh boy. The nurses not only took care of the patients, but we drew all the lab work (including PKUs on the babies), did all the housekeeping duties (including clean-up following deliveries...no, I'm not kidding), and did post-partum duties. There was a post partum area that was supposed to be used for an overflow or for more complicated post c/sections or something. We also had a nursery for high-risk babies but as you can guess, it wasn't long until nurses were quitting left and right and it was just impossible to fit that square peg into the round hole they were trying to force it into! Everyone was suffering, including the patients and though I don't recall, I am sure the infection rate went up because the place was crawling with people...including visiting children. Eventually, we went back to sending all patients to the post partum wing after delivery and recover but they did mother/baby there and it was hard on the staff. What eventually happened was that the wonderful nursery nurses, who were also very territorial when it came to the babies, would take over for the post partum nurses and bring most of the babies to the nursery, especially at night so moms could sleep. So, most of the changes didn't stick. We got some housekeeping help and some nurses aides to help us but we still drew our own labs, which was not so bad because it was usually routine admit stuff that we could get from the IV site when we started the IV. These "high-ups" in administration get these brilliant ideas that just don't work in reality and everyone suffers for it, and you are right, there are safety factors that should be considered, like infection rate. Good luck with whatever decision you make. I was praying for you last night, that the Lord's will would be done and you would know what you should do.

Yes! That duck was the cutest thing in the world and I wanted to keep it so badly but I knew i would fall hard for it and then if one of the dogs killed it we would have a terrible time. He should be a very happy little duck now.

Well, better finish the coffee and get ready for preachin'...talk to you later.

Boo
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79201: Oh, BTW, I recall that one of the big problems with the mother/baby care was that the patients didn't like it. They were exhausted and wanted rest, not to have to take over complete care of the baby the first night. I delivered Sean and Erin in that same hospital and I sent them both off to the nursery the first night. The nursery nurses were friends who understood that I needed rest and they wanted to play with my babies, so it wasn't a problem! ha

Boo
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79202: Good afternoon, porch. Boo, I can believe that you were praying for me last night, because I woke up this morning with a real sense of peace about the situation. I don't know what's going to happen, but whatever it is, I know God is in control and it will be okay. You have clearly outlined the problems with the "plan" - same as we're facing. Now throw in the fact that we also get med/surg patients, and factor that into the infection rate! Still, we have this bull-headed director of nurses, who I suspect is the author of this notion, and she's not going to back down. Well, I guess I'll give it a rest now and wait to see what Wednesday's conference reveals. Meantime, I'm putting out some feelers for alternative employment, so to speak.

As much as you would have enjoyed the little duck, I'm glad you passed him on. It would have been awful, and traumatic for all of you, if one of the dogs had killed him. Besides, he'll need a place where he can get to water and swim like a little duck should. You made the kindest choice.

It's just a beautiful day. Breezy, partly cloudy, 91 degrees (warm, but not awful) and everything is still fresh and green. The summer heat hasn't taken its toll yet. It will, but right now, there's still a spring-like feel to things. I guess I need to get Fatima (my beach umbrella) out of the garage and set her up beside the pond to provide a measure of shade for the fish. The more I can block the sun, the less the algae will proliferate, and the fish love to gather in the shade. That algae is wearing me out already, and the water hasn't even gotten all that warm yet. Oh, I think maybe my scarerabbit is working. I haven't seen that big old egret since I put the rabbit out there. That's no proof that he hasn't been around, but I haven't seen him. Miserable fish-murderer!

Well, I think I'll take my tea and go flop in front of the TV for a while. I love afternoons like this. Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79203: troublecheck

May 23, 2010 - Msg 79204: News was not good for my nephew's wife - she has high pressures in her heart and she will need to have a port put in her shoulder for meds. The poor thing - she was so upset when they put her on short term disability (she is a nurse) so if they try to get her to claim disability - she will pitch a fit.

Had a cookout today with the inlaws. . .it's always interesting when we are together.

Tom is having a birthday this week - maybe we need to have a party for him up at the Lake. What do you say??

hm
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79205: Glad you have a sense of peace about the job situation, Ro. Prayers continue.

You know, yesterday Sean and I saw a big egret in Port Aransas and I was telling him about the one that has been terrorizing the fish in your fishpond. So strange that the thing would show up in your backyard that way.

Very sorry about your nephew's wife, HM. She will adjust, eventually but I am sure it is nothing she expected to have to deal with and the reality will have to set in. I pray the treatment will be effective very soon.

Yep, a birthday party for Tom at the Lake. We haven;t done that in ages. Lets do it on Friday evening at Myer's Lake (so we don't have to worry about getting up early for preachin' the next morning). I'll bring my guitar, hopefully Asa will show up with his bongos, MDC will bring some of his squeezins, and someone needs to be responsible for the bonfire and the birthday cake...

Boo
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79206: Uh, not that you will have so many candles on your cake that it will seem like a "bonfire" TOM, but I mean a real bonfire for roasting marshmallows and hotdogs.... ;-)

Boo
May 23, 2010 - Msg 79207: Asa had better show up- just looked in my little " Mayberry" notebook and tomorrow is his birthday! What do y'all say we make it a Co- birthday party for Asa and Tom? I'll get spot to dust off his Monkees and Partridge Family albums! On second thought, he doesn't need to dust them,'cause he plays them all the time! Don't forget to bring your Bay City Rollers album too, spotty! S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night! LOL

Prayers for your nephew's wife,hm.

Congrats on the Citizen's arrest you & Sean made, Boo. Y'all did a good thing there.

Talk to you good folks later- have a nice evening!
*******************
possum under a rock
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79208: Happy Birthday Dear Asa!

*************
possum u.a.r.
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79209: To me, chicken tasty, not a pet!
hulk
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79210: I don't know hulk, to me ckicken is pet.
Gonzo the Great
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79211:
"Citizen's A-re-est, citizen's a-re-est." I can just picture Boo jumping out of her car...ha
Hey man, she's the one who checked out the hanging "man" in her yard in the middle of the night a while back, a real brave soul! Good going boo getting that guy off the streets!!
Prayers going up for the many porchster needs, situations, and birthdays!
For some reason, I was thinking of all the "originals" on the Hollywood Squares show, and came up with
Walley Cox,
Paul Lynne,
Charlie Weaver,
Minnie Pearl,
George Gobel,
Rose Marie,
but I cant think of the other three.
Anyone?
I think Karen Valentine came later
and Dr Joyce Brothers too, but not sure.
That was a good show.
Well, ya all have a good day.
My surgery is tomorrow, so prayers greatly appreciated.
God bless,
MDC
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79212:
"Next time i want a haircut I'll stick my head in a pencil sharpener!"
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79213: Happy Birthday ASA and Happy Birthday Tom (tomorrow.

HM
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79214: Happy Birthday to Asa and Tom! --Romeena
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79215: To Msg #79212: "And it would fit, too!"....wasn't that Floyd's response to Barney? haha

Thanks, MDC...I had forgotten about the hanging man experience! Prayers for you concerning your surgery tomorrow. Please let us know how things went as soon as you can. :-)

Boo
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79216: Hey, MDC. Prayers for your peace of mind tomorrow, and that all goes well. I know it will - I would do it again in a heartbeat. --Romeena
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79217: hey gang ..hope alls well ,prayers for those in need .m a trip to Florida to take the wife to visit with her grandmother .I dont like driving so the 10 hour drive each way is a real headache ,I dont know how REV does all that traveling .take care .Happy Birthday ASA and TOM
MAYBERRY DEPUTY
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79218: #79217 Should have said Im back from a trip to Florida ..key board didnt work right and I didnt proveread before posting
MAYBERRY DEPUTY
May 24, 2010 - Msg 79219: Ro, I missed it somewhere but what procedure is MDC having done tomorrow?...if it's not confidential.

Boo
May 25, 2010 - Msg 79220: I will be thinking of you and praying for you tomorrow with your surgery, MDC.
I missed it too, Boo. But God knows what it is all about so that is good enough for me.

I would like to share something with you all. It started on Sunday. I went to the evening service after work, and the sermon was about fears. Well, as the pastor was talking, someone in the congregation blurted out a small passage from the Bible that had to do with what he was talking about, and the pastor acknowledged it and repeated it and added where it was found in the Bible.
I liked the passage and wanted to remember it and read up on it, but as the pastor got back to his other points, all I could remember is that it was found in Psalms, but I couldn't remember the chapter or verse numbers(and we all know how many chapters are in Psalms).
So, I looked for it later that night before I went to bed, but still no luck.
Well, tonight after Kai had gone to bed I was cleaning and going through some old school papers of Kai's, throwing away some and keeping others that were interesting or had a really good grade on them, and what do you think I found written by Kai on one of her penmanship test papers?!

Yep, Psalm 56:3 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

God is amazing, isn't he.

That was on a paper from Feb. 25th, and she got a B+ on it, BTW. :) Oh, and I am keeping that one.



Glad you are back safe and sound, Mayberry Deputy, and are done with your long drive.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 25, 2010 - Msg 79221: Wow, don't you just love it when the Lord does things like that, Sterling?! I had something very similar happen to me once concerning Psalm 103. When I was at my lowest point years ago, I was praying and begging God to help me. I was specifically asking for His mercy. When I got up from prayer I went into my bedroom and for some reason walked up and looked behind the TV set I had in the bedroom, I pulled out an old church bulletin from the Episcopal church I sometimes visited and what was on the front?...Typed out in large letters was the verse from Psalm 103 that says, "..as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is His mercy to them that fear Him..."...that encouraged me so much and a few weeks later when times were still pretty tough, I sat down in the pew at church one sunday and noticed a little piece of folded up paper (about a half inch high) and when I unfolded it, it simply had "Psalm 103" printed on it. That psalm has been a big encouragement to me for 20 years now and I read it again and again when I am afraid of not being accepted...that's one I battle with from time to time.

Better go drill Erin on her spelling words..she has a test this morning. Only 4 more days of school! This test is the last of her schoolwork. The rest of the week they will just be cleaning up the room and playing, watching movies...

Boo
May 25, 2010 - Msg 79222: Happy Birthday dear Tom!

That's awesome, Sterling!

Prayers for our buddy MDC as he undergoes surgery today.

Krispy Kremes and coffee next to my rocker- help yourselves!

*******************
possum under a rock
May 25, 2010 - Msg 79223: Hey gang...been busy with the garden....gona read the mail....SPOT
May 25, 2010 - Msg 79224: Happy Birthday TOM...remember we are having a birthday bash at Myer's Lake on Friday night...

Prayers continue to MDC...

Don't care for Krispy Kremes, thanks anyway Possum. I would like some coffee and conversation, though.

Yesterday I finally bought myself some of those old-fashioned chairs I have been wanting. They are the old metal chairs you used to see outside of motels in the old days. Lowe's had them in yellow, green and blue. I bought a couple of yellow ones and put them on the porch and I just love them. They were pretty easy to put together, too, and the dogs can't chew them up. The dogs chewed all the cup holders out of my folding chairs! The other day St. Susan came over with her new Mercury...beautiful car and her husband is paranoid about it getting scratched or dirty (which mean she shouldn't bring it to my house). Well, the other evening the kids gave our dogs a bath and then they went in rolled in the sand until they were wet, sandy dogs. St. Susan showed up for a visit and she had Emily with her. She opened her door and left it open while she got Emily out of the back. Well, our dog Madea proceeded to jump right into the front seat and get wet sand everywhere! Poor Susan...I know it's mean but I couldn't help but laugh thinking of her persnickity husband's reaction. After getting Emily out of the car and putting her down, the dogs jumped on her and knocked her down. Then when Susan sat down on the folding chair on the porch, she put her cup in the cup holder and it fell through onto the ground. Madea grabbed it and ran with it immediately and Sean had to chase her down to get it back. Those pups are a menace! I know they are just pups (4 months old) but they are in need of training. I started using an empty paper towel roll to keep them from jumping up on people because it makes a loud noise. They respond pretty quickly when disciplined and go lay down. The good part is that they don't seem to be very hyper, especially Hank. I think he is part hound dog or something. Bruce is supposed to build a kennel for them when he finishes the fence so we can put them up when company comes. He is almost done with the fence...yay! Poor man has been working hard on it and now he only has to put the string of barbed wired on the top and put on the gates, then we can bring our goats home.

Better get Erin to school...

Boo