May 22, 2013 - Msg 93592: Hello Porch Friends!
The porch has had a few rockers dusted off this week. Glad to see you Sterling and Auh20!

I haven't had a good day today pain-wise. I hope we get this nerve pain fixed soon. They put me on Neurontin, but lowered my pain meds as they can't call in OxyContin. I get that but I'm in more pain now than I was after surgery. Oh well, we will get it figured out. My Dr office is wonderful and my home health nurse and PT are as well. My Mom has neuropathy so I now have sympathy for her more than ever! At least mine is temporary. I also bent over when I'm not supposed to hurting my back.

Sterling, what a neat story about the robin! I've become an amateur ornithologist and would love a robins nest just outside! We have a cardinal family that visits my porch. Birds are such sweet animals, the little ones I should add.

Auh20, I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. I wish we knew sooner. We are a praying bunch! I do hope that she heals very quickly.

Romeena, I'm glad you got it figured out with the government. Yes, it's amazing how much foliage grows after rain.

Boo, my goodness, I didn't hear that your cyst was as big as a soccer ball! I bet your tummy will be flatter now that's out if the way.

PH, I don't think it's nice to take TAGS off of the Internet for Fred viewing. In order for me to watch it on my phone outside of YouTube I have to spend a fortune and buy it on iTunes. Ridiculous!

Frankie, I guess the stitches removal will be a nice gift to your husband. :) And he'd better start online shopping so he doesn't miss getting something not only for his wife, but now you're his nurse too so you deserve something more expensive. Maybe a new bed jacket?

Big Maude, thanks for supper. I hope Patrick has a good summer at school. What is his major? Will your daughter be home?

SMH, I'm so glad that your job is going well! What a blessing!

Asa, apparently I missed that you're in need of prayers and the reason, but buddy you've got them!

MDC, you haven't been very vocal on here lately. I hope you're a hanging.

Spot, are you taking your boat out this weekend?

Mr. Tom, I hope you're feeling okay.

Someone mentioned Memorial Day. My niece and her boyfriend are driving down from Ohio and spending next week with us. When we made the plans, we never thought I would be numb and barely walking. So...this should be interesting, but we will make it work. I'm happy somebody is visiting us. We rarely get visitors!

Well, I'm going to try to sleep. Y'all have a wonderful day tomorrow. Remember that each day is a gift from God so act like somebody!

Blessings to you and yours,
Lucy
May 22, 2013 - Msg 93593: I've swept for the first time ever here on the porch!! It's amazing what one can do in a wheelchair. ;)

Lucy
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93594:
And agood one it was!
Wow, it's like old home week here on the porch, Lucy, auh20, maude, PH, Sterling, frankie, NN, etc!
As Ty used to say Welcome Home porch family, welcome home!
Lucy- just not much to say lately. After things like Oklahoma, I tend to be quiet for a while,
but then let it all out. Like, why didnt those schools in tornado alley have shelters?
I know I'm not there, but it seems so crazy.
Prayers continue for all ailin'.
PH- I post to one tags FB site, but mostly just on my own page.
RO- we could use some of that rain. After a slight dip, it's back to 100s! dang hot too soon.
I could bring up all the scandals, but what's the use? 40 years ago this week were watergate hearings. No one seems to learn from history!
Have a good night all,
MDC

May 23, 2013 - Msg 93595: Good evening, porch. I was on the porch around noon, reading and planning to respond, when Eloise called. She had just gotten a call from Brittney, and what she had to report just scared us all to death. Brittney had run by home to change clothes quickly and go get the boys from school to take them to a Ranger game. She left her garage door open as she wasn't planning to be in the house but about five minutes. From her bedroom, she heard Bentley bark, and says it was a bark like she had never heard from him before, very deep and threatening, all snarly, too. She went to her bedroom door and realized she could see daylight shining on the wall across from her utility room, which meant that the door into the garage was open. She couldn't see the door, just the resulting daylight. Suddenly Bentley gave a loud yelp, and came sailing across the entry hall floor and almost into the kitchen. Later, the police would find a trail of saliva across that floor.

She had no phone in the bedroom, but she got a pistol out of the closet, went back to the bedroom door and stepped out where she could see. Bentley came to her, no longer barking, so she figured whoever it was had left. She called the police, then David, then her mom (Eloise). David was in far East Dallas, and he and Brittney live north of Ft. Worth, so it took him a while to get there. Eloise and Brittney's sister and I went out there and stayed with her until David got home.

The police didn't sugarcoat anything. They told her the man was not likely just a thief, but rather was after her. He had passed up some valuable tools and electronics in the garage, and had made no effort to check to see if anyone was home. He knew she was there, apparently. What he didn't expect was a hostile dog with some very serious teeth confronting him at the door and barking to alert her. He knew she was now likely to come out of the bedroom with a gun, so he took off. She never saw him.

The gun was not loaded, and the only comment the officers made regarding her having a gun was that the intruder wouldn't have known that, but also that it worked better if it was loaded! I've observed in the last couple of years that the police seem pretty much in favor of folks being armed in their own homes. I think they know, better than anyone else, that it's very true - "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away."

It took them about ten minutes to get there. If the man had come on in the house, Brittney would have been in very real danger. With a gun in her hand, the danger would have decreased considerably. With a loaded gun in her hand, she would have been in almost no danger at all.

We're all very happy and grateful that the man just left, no one was hurt, and some lessons were learned. I have done the same thing she did, many times - just run in the house for something and leave the garage door open. I won't do it again. She's also considering stashing some cans of wasp spray around the house, because those can be left out in the open, no risk to the kids, and they're extremely effective. Sprayed into an intruder's eyes, they produce extreme pain and temporary blindness, usually only relieved by a trip to the ER. They can be aimed with surprising accuracy, too. I knocked out a wasp nest over a doorway from about fifteen feet away, and hit it on the first spray.

Well, that's my news for tonight, and I hope everyone reads a heartfelt prayer of thankfulness into what I wrote, because it's there. God was looking out for Brittney today, and sent his angel, in the form of a sweet dog named Bentley, who loves everybody, but was ready to defend his mom today. He was unhurt, doesn't even appear to have any tender spots, and for that we're also extremely grateful. Bless his little heart.

--Romeena
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93596: Wow, Romeena. Scary stuff!
Just trying to visualize what was going on there. I am guessing from your description that it is an attached garage? Not that an intruder couldn't slink into a detached garage. Either way, it is a scary situation.
Glad she is ok, and that she had a gun. And thank God for that little angel of a dog of hers.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93597: Glad that Brittney is O.K. how frightening for her. Her dog deserves extra treats and lots of pets.
Frankie
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93598: Well Lucy, you poor sweetheart! I hate that you are dealing with that kind of pain. You know, when those nerves start waking up it is a whole different ball game. The area around my incision is finally waking up and I am having some pain but I would describe it as tolerable. The kind of pain you are having is one of the worst kinds, I think. Praying, praying! So you are having company, too? Let them help you, don't over-do trying to take care of everyone else, you hear?

MDC, I wondered the same thing about the storm shelters in the schools and Sean told me that he heard on the news that to dig shelters in that area would mean blasting through rock and it is very expensive. I guess now maybe they will consider it, though. You know how it is, schools barely have enough money to function as it is.

Thank God for BENTLEY! At a seminar once, I heard a guy in law enforement give a talk on home safety and he said the number one deterrent to break-ins is a dog in the house. Ours are outside but they are loud barkers. Last week we discovered that someone had opened our gate sometime in the night and driven up to the house. I'm sure the dogs went nuts and they left in a hurry because they ran into our basketball stand and dented it, knocking the front of it off. I think dogs are a must out here where we live. We also have motion sensor lights, which I think helps.

I am so glad that Brittney is ok, Ro. Wow. It amazes me the way dogs just know when someone is a threat to their owner. Even gentle, lovable dogs. I remember once when my sister was young, she had my mom's old airdale with her at the beach. They were both in the car and a guy approached her..that dog went bananas like it was going to eat the guy alive. Needless to say, he moved on. Now you know that guy was up to no good. I think dogs have that instinct and I also think that God uses dogs, especially, to protect and help humans. Like they say, "man's best friend".

Sterling, in Texas most all garages are attached. Its hard to find one that isn't unless its pretty old. I leave my garage door open all day as we use that entrance to go in and out alot. I am starting to rethink that, especially when Bruce is not home. We have the gate that has to be opened before you can drive in, and a no tresspassing sign but we have had people disregard the sign before. I'm beginning to wish i had a couple of dobermans.;)

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93599: Almost forgot..praying for ASA. Praying for the Lord to give him peace and for the procedure to be a success and end the a-fib for good!

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93600: A hearty Good Morning to the Porch!

I am heading for Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend. I hope yours is a safe and happy one and all of you are blessed with family and health. Greetings to Boo,Ro,MDC,Lucy,TOM,Frankie,Sterling,MDC,Asa,Maude,SMH,SPOT and the entire Porch sitters!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to figure out what hotel room that music's coming from! Darn these hives!

John Masters
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93601: Hello Porch Family!

That is an amazing story RO and I agree with the others I believe God uses his creations as instruments to provide protection to us His most precious of all His creations. God Bless Bentley and give him an extra doggie treat too! It really scares me for the safety of my family now because Connie often times leaves our garage door open when she is by herself at home as others have said here we use it as our main entrance in and out of the house. Many times when school is out my boys are out there playing ball riding bikes and someone could just walk off with them; none of us want to think about and we want to think that people and the times are as it was when we were kids but unfortunately it is not. No longer would we think about letting our boys outside to play and explore the neighborhood and not expect them back until lunch time or at dark; it is sad as we all want to think our little corner of the world is immune from these terrible things but the reality is that it can happen at anytime in any neighborhood. We must remain vigil, constantly pray trusting in God's protection and provision along with the hope of knowing He will be returning some day soon to take us home with Him where there will be no more evil...Praise His Name!

Beautiful day here on our end of the porch; gorgeous sunshine and very comfortable temps in the mid 70's this weekend...sounds like baseball weather to me and as I have said before both boys have games starting tomorrow night and every day through Monday night...LOL pass the sunscreen and sunflower seeds it is Baseball time! It will be a fun weekend with our baseball family, some good old fashioned charcoal grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken with worship and praise on Sunday!

Lest we forget...I don't want to mess this opportunity and will throughout the weekend to Thank all the veterans on this porch and the families on this porch who have veterans in their family...we can never Thank all the men and women who have faithfully served this Country with some giving the supreme sacriface of their lives to protect us, our freedoms and way of life. This old hillbilly with a tear in his eye Thanks you from the bottom of his heart!

LUCY continued prayers for His comfort and peace as you endure this pain...remember Jesus is there to take the burden because He knows we can't bear it alone.
BOO sorry about the pain you are feeling but hopefully it is a sign of your continual recovery...prayers for you as well.
Prayers continue for ASA, MAUDE (her friend and son Patrick), Frankie, AUH2O (your daughter) and any Porchesters I have missed

A big hey and howdy to RO,MDC,Mr.TOM,Frankie,Sterling,SPOT,John Masters,Rev

What is everybody doing for the long Memorial Day Weekend? I know Lucy has some family coming in and Lucy don't try to do too much let the family help you but what is everybody else doing? Well you know what I am doing...LOL

A big prayer and Blessings for everyone!
SMH

ANDY: Opie! Time to come in, son.
OPIE: Aw Pa, just a little while longer... please?
ANDY: Well, OK.
ANDY: Daylight's precious when your a youngen'
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93602: Wow, I used to think I lived in a safe neighborhood, but the things that happen in some of your areas make me think I REALLY live in a safe neighborhood!
I think the scariest thing that happened to relatives around here is once a drunk guy thought he was home after a night out and fell asleep on my mom's porch.
But don't worry, I don't take anything for granted. I lock up tight as a drum, and not just at night or when nobody's home. I don't own a gun(yet), but I do have some mighty big swords, some bear pepper spray(since they don't allow very strong human pepper spray here - you know, it might hurt the intruders or something), motion-sensor lights, as well as those big Mag-lite flashlights like the police use, which can be used as a club or restraining device if need be. I would like a big dog, but we haven't had too much luck with animals.

Hey SMH! For Memorial Day we will probably go to the pow-wow. Or at least my wife will. I've grown kind of tired of them; seen one, seen them all in my opinion. That and what seems to be the growing animosity towards whites which I have personally seen and experienced in my old jobs for the Indian nation here, I am kind of tired of that too.
I can say that they(most) do appreciate the veterans though, and will invite veterans(of any race) to come out and dance around the circle during the Memorial Day pow-wow and other similar pow-wows.

And of course we may cook out. Though I think I have to get some more propane for my grill. I think it is running a bit low.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93603: Oh, forgot to say thanks for the info, Boo! I didn't know that most Texas homes had attached garages. In all the homes I have lived in(4 I think, 2 of those were rentals), not one of them had the garage attached to the home. I guess we have a lot of older homes here.

-Sterling Holobyte
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93604: 5 homes. I forgot my childhood home in town.

And then I forgot my first childhood home out in the country. That one did have an attached garage. I remember that breezeway attaching the garage to the house because there was this vent there, with a spider web attached to that, and when the wind blew in that vent, it made the web, and sometimes the spider when it was on it, wiggle. And to a 1 - 7 year old, that was pretty frightening. :)

-Sterling Holobyte
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93605:
Howdy porch family....wow I have been so busy but thankful for the schedule. Will be in TN tomorrow for a concert in Pigeon Forge on Saturday night.

Ro...tell Brittney to get some lead in that gun. A empty gun can be very dangerous. It could cause a thug to shoot even if he wouldn't have. Thank God she's ok!

As always...even when I'm not here on the porch you folks are in my heart and prayers!
You all have a very blessed Memorial Day weekend.
Love and prayers!
-REV.
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93606: Hey Sterling, maybe it was Charlotte in the web.....I couldn't resist, sorry. I almost knocked myself out today, I was watering my plants and was wearing my house shoes and was stretching the hose out and stumbled and fell against the workshop..OUNCH!!!
Frankie
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93607: Good afternoon, porch. Thanks, everyone, for your expressions of concern for Brittney. She's fine, about to get over the scare and moving on toward mad. Actually, I wouldn't want to tangle with Brittney, armed or not. She's in excellent physical condition, and is trained in kick-boxing. I think she could put a man on the ground in a lot of pain, real quick-like! As for Bentley, he really proved his worth. He's such a sweet old teddybear, that no one would think he had it in him, but apparently he does. I hope he bit a plug out of the guy, but guess he didn't. We didn't find any blood.

Yes, most of our garages are attached in Texas. Mine opens directly into my laundry room, and then into the kitchen. I use it as the principal access to the house. The front door is rarely used, maybe two or three times a year. Guests come in through the garage! Kinda tacky, I guess, but I'm a very informal person, and everyone just automatically comes through the garage to the kitchen door. The funny part is when a visitor pushes the button by the door, thinking they're ringing a doorbell, and the garage door goes down!

It's inconvenient, when working outdoors, to have to close the door every time you go in the house, but I guess I'll be doing that. I do close it when I go around to the back yard. I used to carry an opener with me, but David installed a numbered keypad by the garage door, so I can access it that way. It's a rolling code, so the bad guys with the scanners can't pick up the code. I'm not sure how that works, but I have been assured that it does.

I miss the days gone by, when my dad often left the keys in his car on the driveway, our windows were open, and the biggest safety measure we took was to latch the screen door when we went to bed. I can remember hearing my mother ask my dad to get up and go latch the screen after we had all gone to bed. He would do it. Not that it mattered, because there was a hole in the screen where at some point, someone had used a key, a screwdriver, stick, or their finger to poke a hole so they could flip the latch up, because somehow the back door had been locked while the screen on the front door was latched. Still, I slept well, secure in the idea that I was safe, because the screen was latched.

Prayers for all who are hurting, that it will soon be resolved and pain will be gone. Blessings, my friends. --Romeena
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93608: Poor Frankie...be careful, dear.

You are very kind, SMH, thank you for your concern. I like what you have to say and I understand where you are coming from as far as child safety. I try to focus on the positives and think about how the vast majority of folks out there would never harm my kids, and its true. I think you have to teach them how to be safe and leave the rest in God's hands. When I think back about my own childhood, there were some pretty creepy people in my own neighborhood that sure could have been dangerous, and that was in the 60's. There was this one guy down the alley who was in his 20's and very strange..just leered at the little girls in the neighborhood. One day a friend and I were in the alley feeding a horse that lived back there. We climbed onto the fence and there came this creep walking down the alley. I just ignored him but then suddenly his hand was up my shorts. I jumped down so fast and ran home. I never told my mother, though, and i should have. It scared me to death and I avoided that guy at all costs. I guess I told the story to say that there have always been perverts (plenty of them), there will always be perverts but now we are more informed about them and we can better protect our kids. I always remind my kids, though, that most people are kind and helpful. I don't want them growing up in fear of everything. I also pray for their protection everyday.

Sterling, I'll bet the pow-wows can be fun. I only heard of one here in our area and it was like a bit state-wide thing they held in corpus christi one year. At the time i was working at the hospital and one of my patiens was a native america and her husband talked with me about the pow-wow and their beliefs. He was a very nice guy, I remember that.

Not doing anything special this weekend...just trying not to over do it.

Be safe John Masters, and have a terrific memorial day.

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93609: Oh hey, Ro. Everyone uses our door from the garage, too. It opens directly into the kitchen and there are glass panes in the door so I can see who is out there. I do keep the garage door down most of the time in the day, though. I can remember the days, living in a small town, when the doors weren't even locked when we went to bed. Those were the good old days.

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93610: Oh...one more thing, SMH, I often think that one of the biggest threats to the safety of our kids these days is the internet, and many parents don't monitor what their children are doing. Kids can meet some really bad, unsafe people the internet.

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93611: I counted the number of staples in Mr. Flint's knee today, there's 42, it looks like a zipper. I have to return to work next week and I'm going to miss being home with him. I work about ten minutes away so I can get here quickly if he needs me. He thinks he will be able to drive next week....we'll see.
Frankie
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93612: 42?!~Shazaam!..poor Mr. Flint!

Boo
May 23, 2013 - Msg 93613: Frankie...Do you tell him to ZIP IT!!! Or just Tick a lock? haha could not help myself...

REV good to see ya back on the Porch I tried to return your e-mail not sure it went thru?
Mrs. G-F and I went to P/F a couple of years age we loved it!

G-F...
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93614:
That thief didnt expect "B & B" to greet him!!
Glad all is OK.
I can imagine a different outcome in Britian yesterday if
some folks there were armed with more than their cameras!!
Hello to a nice and full porch!
RO, et al- when we leave our G door open we always lock the inner door to the house. If we go into the garage for something, we leave the inner door a little ajar. If it should close accidently, we have a well-hidden key in the garage. I'm just sayin'. Or, just keep a key in your pocket.
Of course I've mentioned before how my dad used to flip the car keys onto the underside ledge of the dashboard at night(before computers etc were all crammed under there!)
PRAYERS CONTINUE!
nite,
MDC
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93615: Jesus loves me, this I KNOW! (:
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93616: Morning Porch!..happy Friday..gona be a good un here in Ga...hey Boo,NDC,asa prayers Mr Flint!..take it easy..ok...logging in here at work...breakfast?...SPOT
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93617: Good Friday Everyone!

A little cool for this time of the year on my end of the porch but beautiful blue skies and lots of sunshine; it is suppose to warm back to the 80's before the weekend is over.

Hey Boo Thanks for the kind words;that is a scary memory from your childhood but makes your point that these evil things have always been around but because of all the technology we have today it is more readily available to us and made known to us by the all the media outlets. We feel the same way about the technology our children have access to today; we have been very diligent to institute parental safeguards on each of thier devices and we created seperate accounts on all the social media sites (FB, Twiter, Instagram...) so that we can monitor thier activity plus we have all their account user names and passwords and we regularly log into thier accounts and check thier activity. It is as we have told them, it is not that we don't trust them but it is the other people out there on the internet that we do not trust. The most important thing is that they both know how much we love them both, that we have always told them the truth about everything so that they know if they have a question they can come to us for the right answer and we constantly pray for them. Many times at night we stand outside thier bedrooms or at the foot of their beds and pray for God's protection, guidance and Blessings upon their lives. outside of personal salvation one of the greatest gifts God gives us is our children...the sweet innocence and faith of a child is worth more than all the riches in the world.

I have a funny story about my son Dalton that everyone might appreciate especially those with a medical background...we have taught our boys that no one should touch them in certain areas of their person unless it is Mom or Dad and that they should get away and immediately tell us if is should happen...well right after that Dalton went for his annual physical (Dalton was only 4 or 5 at the time) and it was with our family doctor who was a pediatrician too that we had been going to for more than ten years at the time. Connie was in the examinig room with the Doc and Dalton where Dalton was laying on the table and as the Doc was examining his lower abdomen area (by the way why do Doc's thump and push on your lower stomach; are they trying to see if your are ripe like a watermelon) anyway, as the Doc was examining Dalton's lower abdomen as he reached below the belt line area Dalton raised his head and with a worried look on his face turned his head toward Connie. She shook her head up and down in a 'yes' fashion and mouthed the words "It is OK" then Dalton, very slowly, turned his head back and lowered it with a very quizzical look on his face.

Wow Frankie unbelievable 42 stitches...good to know you are so close if he needs you...prayers for Mr. Flint

Prayers for all those in need on the Porch!

Hey REV honk the horn and wave as you come through Middle TN on your way to Pigeon Forge...prayers that many will blessed and lives changed during your concerts!

I hope everyone will have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend...a hillbilly Salute to all the porch Verterans and their families...Thank you for your sacriface!

Ya'll make it a good day and act like somebody...let's meet at the Diner for lunch today...I think I will get the business mans special...how about you?

Prayers and Blessings to all!
SMH

BARNEY: Adios, amigo.
BRISCOE DARLING [to Andy]: He one of ours?
ANDY: Oh, sure.
BRISCOE DARLING [to Barney]: More power to ya.
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93618: Hi All
Who would like some rain?

TOM

May 24, 2013 - Msg 93619: Hey,
Will y'all please pray for mine and my husband's family. My mother in law, a wonderful woman, has unexpectantly passed away this morning.

Thanks.
Blessings,
Lucy
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93620: Oh Lucy so sad to hear...praying now and will continue to pray only God's peace and understanding to comfort you, your husband and family...may direct and send people your way to Bless you

SMH
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93621: Hey there TOM...missed your post...sorry but we don't need the rain with all the baseball games my boys are playing this weekend...I hope you have a great weekend despite the rain.

SMH
Ramona 'Romeena' Ankrum: It rained last week, ya know?
Ernest T. Bass: Yeah... yeah... I was right there in it.
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93622: Lucy, Sorry for your family's loss, but then again it's heavens gain, they need wonderful people too. I know that that's little comfort in these times but we all must share the love and joy from our loved ones have given us. "Don't the heavens seen nice and full today"!

Don't remember who coined the weather as "Bi-Polar" but cold on my end of the Porch and suppose to get FROST tonight so I better cover-up my plants so they don't get zapped!

TOM, The Indians beat the BoSox 16-3 yesterday, I'm wondering just when do we believe they are going to be "winners" or let us down like they always do..What do you think?

G-F
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93623: Afternoon Porch. prayers for all, and thanks for the prayers on my behalf. So sorry for your loss Lucy. I pray you will feel of our Lords comforting companionship during this time.

Boo, thank you so much for those kind words. The procedure went very well. Dr. called it "text book". He feels very confident all is well. And I have all the confidence in the world in him. He's a specialist within a specialty. A Cardiologist that specializes in electrical circuits in the heart. Younger feller with about the best bedside manner I've ever seen. Just exudes confidence, in a humble way. I feel very blessed to have been able to hook up with him.

Glad Bently was on the job Romeena. How very scary. And I agree with Rev, she better get some bullets in that gun. Who does she think she is, Barney Fise? LOL

Prayers for all.

Asa
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93624: So sorry, Lucy. Your family seems to be in the middle of some terrible trials. I know its hard to see now, but God is going to work some wonderful things in your life. Keep trusting. My prayers for your family.

Very glad to hear that the procedure went well, Asa, and that you were in excellant hands. :) Are you feeling any different?...besides relief, of course.

SMH, the way you described praying for your children caused me to tear up a little...so sweet. Sound like you are all the ball, as far as keeping a watchful eye of protection on those boys. Good for you and your dear wife! Cute story about Dalton, by the way. :)

I'll take some rain, TOM. :) We are still in a major drought here. Docs are even suggesting that people drink bottled water due to the quality of the water now.

Boo


May 24, 2013 - Msg 93625: Asa, It's hard to keep a good HVAC man down, soon you'll be leapin from buildings to buildings in a single bound! Is he gonna wire ya up to 240v instead of 110? That would put a hop to your step!I'd be happy just climb a ladder with out it hurting...

Went to track & field day this morning to watch granddaughter compete. It really blessed my heart to see her console a classmate who had loss a race. It was really neat to watch her, not many words just a friend to lean on and be there for..
Bless her heart....

G-F....
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93626: Good afternoon, porch. Asa, I'm so glad that all went well, but am not surprised. They have that procedure down to a fine art now, and the success rate is very high. Sounds like you were in good hands, and we know you were in the Father's hands, so you had it covered all around.

Lucy, what is there to say? You and your family didn't need any more stress, but it came, and you will deal with it. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your comment about the lady says it all, and I'm sorry you're all having to deal with losing someone that was obviously well-loved. Just take it one day at a time, dear, and God will see you through it.

Well, I'm beat to the socks. Joe and Jorge were here today, worked all day in my yard, and got so much done, but we have to plan another day next week. There was just so much, there was no way to finish. Since I haven't been able to keep up with it, the weeds had just taken over the flowerbeds. I don't like to use sprays, but some areas were just beyond what could be handled by pulling them. So in those places, Joe sprayed them, and will come back next week and rake them out. Then we'll put a layer of corn gluten meal on the ground, and a thick layer of mulch on top of that, and that should do it. We didn't get the roses pruned, but I may be able to do that over the weekend. A few here, a few there, and maybe I'll get them all. There are about thirty, so it will take a while.

And now, a nice long warm shower sounds like heaven, so that's where I'm headed. Blessings, all. --Romeena
May 24, 2013 - Msg 93627: Well Boo, Not feeling any different because I wasn't in a-fib constant. But the bouts were coming more frequent and getting more difficult to convert back. And the Doctor warned me that it would get to a point where ablation was no longer an option for me. One of the interesting things he told me afterwards was that he didn't have to induce me into an a-fib condition. He said the minute he got into my heart chamber it went into a-fib on it's own. He said this is ideal because that allows him to see exactly where the "short circuit" is taking place and deal with it. He said we try taking out the offending tissue without taking out to much. He went up both sides of the groin, one to deal with the a-fib and one to deal with the a-flutter. It was an almost 5 hours spent on the table. They kept me overnight mostly to make sure the groin wounds healed up. But I'm plenty sore in the chest today. He said to expect that from swelling. First time I ever spent a night in the Hospital. And thanks to you and Ro, I made sure I was extra nice to the nurses, and man did it pay-off. They were so kind to me, and the nurse on duty insisted she get to wheel me out the door instead of her CNA doing it. I joked that she just wanted to make sure she got me out of the building. And bless her heart, she said I was the best patient she had the honor of serving in a long time. Gave me a big old hug when we got to my daughters car and wished me all the best. So Ro and Boo, your work has paid off. :)

Sounds like a touching moment with your grand daughter G-F. Ain't they a blessing?

Asa
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93628: Oh Asa, you put a big smile on my face!! So happy everything went the way it did. Sounds like the Lord really answered prayer for both of us this month. :)

Boo
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93629: Forgot to mention what happened in the chicken coop today. Bernie is not doing his job very well. This evening I went out to the coop while Bruce was feeding the chickens because the newest hens are just not being accepted by Bernie for some reason. I don't know what we are going to do, but anyway, we have a dog house in the coop with hay in it and the hens like to nest and lay there eggs in there. Bruce reached in to get the eggs when he was a snake in the nest. I saw it at the same time he did and at first glance it looked like a rattle snake. Of course it was just a rat snake that had crawled in there and ate the eggs and was napping. Texas Rat Snakes look somewhat like rattle snakes, as far as markings and they are big...this one was a good 5 to 6 feet, but they aren't poisonous and seldom try to bit. Bruce sent him on his way into the field next to us but I expect he will be coming back for more eggs. I guess i am just going to have to pick him up and carry him off somewhere and let him loose. He was a beauty and I kind of wish I had kept him to play with for awhile. He'll probably be back. Strangely, we just never see snakes on the place but have seen 2 this week. Both were harmless but it makes me want to be extra careful. I am making bruce and the kids keep their cell phones with them when they are out doing the chores. I guess the drought is bringing out the snakes.

Better get to bed. Today is the first day i didn't take a nap since I had surgery. I am almost feeling normal most of the time. ;)

Boo
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93630:
Asa, so glad all went well. As i have mentioned, it IS "too late" for me as the procedure wasnt around when i was first diagnosed. I i do pretty well with it.
Boo- glad you and yours are OK. yes, be careful!
LUcy-my prayers for your families.
Good nite all,
MDC
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93631: Boo, "As God as my witness I thought snakes could fly"! Is that what Bruce said as he evicted the snake from the chicken coop? haha!
I had that vision in my head, maybe ya need to trade Bernie in for a Mongoose or two, Mongooses or Mongeeses I can never remember that rule is it e after "g" in geese or "o" after g in goose?
But wait, I think they eat eggs too so it doesn't really matter. Sooo never mind..
Maybe ya need to call Kentucky and get the "Turtle Man" to come out. The show is called "The Call of the Wildman" if Andy thought Barney was a NUT, he could not hold a candle to the Turtle Man, "Yeyeye,Live Action!
I'll post a link if you have never seen the show.

G-F....
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93632: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6QJWEYn4zU
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93633: One for Possum too..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_g5NG8o0p8
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93634: And one for fun...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhO7dMEthK4
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93635: +1 more....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuuNsjCP7k
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93636: Morning all. Yes Boo, the Lord smiled upon us both this month indeed. Glad you continue to ge better and stronger. I was watching a show the other day called American Hoggers I think thats the neam. About a father-son-daughter team who capture wild hogs down there in Texas. Maybe you and Bruce can make yer own show, American Snakers. Could star You, Bruce, and Bernie. Probably be a big hit.

G-F, I sure do enjoy your sense of humor. You always make me giggle. Loved Johnny Carson and Tim Conway.

Happy Birthday to Tom. I think today is his birthday. Hope it's a good one my friend.

Thanks MDC. Amazing the technology they have now days. I'm glad you have managed your a-fib good.

Well I'm to take it easy for a few days, and that's just what I plan on doing.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial day weekend and take the time to reflect those who sacrificed all for us.

Asa
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93637: Hi All.
Thank You ASA for the wish.
Mr.TOM
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93638: Two Chairs No Waiting 235: Goober's Age http://youtu.be/ob8yx8LGblI
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93639: Asa, Frankke's rehab has an opening for one more. Glad to hear you are on mend, I'm counting on some corn to go with my steamed crabs this summer. It has been ten days since Mr. Flint's surgery and he has gone from a walker to a cane and is doing great. I have to return to work Tuesday, but my sister-in-law is off next week and lives next door so she will check in on him.
Frankie
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93640: Good afternoon, porch. It's a freshly-washed day here, after a thunderstorm last night, and is so pretty. Looks like more storms tonight, though. We need the rain, so send 'em on!

Asa, you continue to rest and take it easy. I'm so glad the procedure was successful. I suppose that could be in my future some day, as I do have occasional short runs of a-fib. My doc says it's not a concern right now, but he does keep a watch on it. If I'm busy, I don't even know it's happening. We just find it later on the pacer reading they do every three months. They can tell from the time of day and other indications that I was probably up and moving, so didn't even notice the a-fib. Sometimes it happens when I'm sitting still, or in bed but not asleep, and I notice it then. When I do, sometimes I can stop if by taking a very deep, sharp breath, or by sitting up and falling back onto the bed. The jolt will sometimes convert it. At any rate, it rarely lasts more than five minutes or so, according to the pacer readings, so the doc says it's not a problem, and may never get any worse.

Well, it's algae season again. The warm days and lots of sunshine causes a proliferation of algae in the pond, and that's not good. The fish don't seem to mind it, but it clogs the pumps and filters and eventually they'll mind that! I put some Algae-fix in the water yesterday, to try to knock the stuff down before it gets too much of a start.

There's a butterfly out there that's as big as the palm of my hand! I'm pretty sure it's a giant swallowtail. I see them often around here, and they're spectacular. It's just beautiful, and is really having a good time around the daylilies. I love butterflies!

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some lunch. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93641: Happy Birthday Mr. TOM, to bad you don't live closer I'd take ya to a Indians game for your Birthday...

Romeena, Algae? Pronounced al'gae? must be Italian, was it you Major Award?..Re, Ralphie's old man...Butterflies are free...as I am told!

G-F...
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93642: Oh, hi, Frankie. I'm glad Mr. Flint is doing so well. I'll bet he'll get very creative and will take good care of himself. When I had my knee surgery about eight years ago, I couldn't put my foot to the floor for three weeks, because of the kind of surgery it was. It was an ACL graft. So, I was on crutches for that time, and that could get inconvenient. You can't carry something and walk with crutches!

My kitchen has a center island, which made it possible for me to work at the stove, sink, microwave and even the fridge and always have a surface to put something down. Getting to my big chair in the living room was a little harder. I always eat in that chair while watching TV. It's just too lonely sitting at the table all by myself.

So I worked out a "chain of transfer" arrangement. My whole living area is an open concept, with a large angled bar separating the kitchen area from the living room, which is sunken. There are short barstools on the kitchen side, and tall, leather arm-chair styled barstools on the living room side. So, I put a short barstool between the kitchen island and the table, and another one between the table and the angled bar. Then in the living room, I put one tall barstool near the end of the bar, and one of the short ones next to my chair. That allowed me to prepare my plate, and while leaning on my crutches, I could move it to the first barstool. Crutch over, move the plate to the table. Crutch over, move it to the barstool, then to the bar, then make the step down into the living room, and continue leap-frogging the plate until it made it to the stool beside my chair. Get in the chair, retrieve the plate, and I'm all set. My kids thought the whole thing was hilarious, but it worked. One thing for sure, you don't want to forget anything you're going to need. Going back for a fork is not fun. I almost ate a salad with my fingers one night, but the dressing was just too messy.

Another thing we did was take one of the seat cushions off one of the sofas, and put it on top of the cushion in my chair. I may have looked like Ms. Thing on my throne, but I was comfortable, and getting in and out of that chair was a lot easier. When you can only use one leg and mostly have to pull yourself up with some teetery crutches, you don't want to be down too far in a chair. Anyway, it worked, and convinced my kids that I was okay to stay alone, after the first two or three days. I even learned to get myself in and out of my CPM machine every night.

So, Frankie, tell Mr. Flint I said to hang in there, be creative, and he'll be up and dancing a jig in no time. Blessings! --Romeena
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93643: Hi, G-F. No, this isn't Italian algae, it's plain old Texas stuff, and it's annoying. Yes, butterflies are free, and I'm so glad. Glad for them, and glad for me, because I can sit here and enjoy the show and it doesn't cost me a dime! --Romeena
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93644: Romeena we have been very creative also, he has to keep his leg elevated after we do PT so we stacked sofa cushions which worked pretty well. When he went to the PT center he told me about a wedge cushion that they used that was very comfortable, he went online and found one just like it and was going to order it but I told him to wait I knew where I could get it from a medical supply store here in town. Anyway we got one and he loves it and the cushions are back on the sofa. He has to do PT at home twice a day and one or two were difficult till I put a cookie sheet under his heel and told him to pull his leg up with the rubber strap....it worked and was a little less painful. I went to the Amish market this morning and got him carrot cake and whoopie pies so he's a happy camper right now.
Frankie
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93645: The city I live in is geared toward tourist and one shop has embroidered pillows with various sayings, one is "Raising children is like being pecked to death by a duck" and another one is "if your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either"
Frankie
May 25, 2013 - Msg 93646: Hahaha! Frankie, I love those sayings. Actually, the first one is familiar. My DIL has it on a little plaque on her fridge, but it says "by a chicken" instead of "by a duck." She also has a cute little wooden plaque on her kitchen wall that reads: "Boy (noun) - A noise with dirt on it."

I fully agree with that last saying. Dogs know about people. They understand us much better than we understand them, bless their little hearts. Apparently our Bentley knew a bad guy when he saw one, earlier this week. I'm still amazed, because he's such a lamb, it's hard to imagine him going after someone, but he did. I don't know what Toye Starr would do, but I hope she would just bark from a safe distance, and not try to defend me. A kick like Bentley took would kill her for sure.

I have a couple of those wedge pillows. They used to be supplied along with a special bed we would order for certain patients at the hospital. The beds were rented, and when they were no longer used, they were returned, but the supplier didn't want the pillows back. Understandable if they had been used, but in many cases the pillows had never been out of the plastic wrap, because the patient was too sick to be propped up. Still the company wouldn't take them back, so they were considered trash. With permission, several of us took them home. As the supply person said, trash is trash, I don't care where it ends up. I made corduroy covers for mine, and my kids and now my grandkids use them when they lie on the floor in front of the TV. I used them with my knee surgery too. Very handy.

The boys had baseball games this evening, but got rained out. So now, I guess I need to decide on something for dinner. Maybe I'll just eat some soup. I'm not very hungry. Blessings, all. --Romeena
May 26, 2013 - Msg 93647: Hi All.
Boy it came and gong by and just two friend reminer that it was me BIRTHDAY!
yesterday


Mr.TOM

May 26, 2013 - Msg 93648:
HI TOM--HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Sorry I am late,
but better late than never you know!
RO- I hear that more rain is heading your way.
Frankie, glad Mr Flint is doing better.
Hope all are having a good weekend.
A couple years ago, my dad told me of one mission where the plane below him in formation
took a direct hit, sending three of his buddies to the great beyond. He said that he had that "combat guilt" for a long time, but having a large family in the ensuing years,
and all that goes with that, took those thoughts from his mind.
Strange how things like that happen.
God blessed this land, and I thank every man and woman who gave their all for it.
Prayers,
MDC
May 26, 2013 - Msg 93649: MDC..."Combat Guilt" Just think of all of the Veterans who have not been able to share any of their pains they have been carrying thru all the years. Many go to their graves with the pains of war!
God Bless our Veterans..Yesterdays,Todays,and the Futures. They are MY Heroes!
"I said it and I ain't takin it back"!!

G-F....
May 26, 2013 - Msg 93650: Wow, we are getting old, aren't we? Most of the talk here on the porch is about our ailments...surgeries, procedures, how to navigate on crutches, get rid of a-fib, and uses for wedge pillows. HAHA.

Frankie, my MIL had knee replacement surgery and had such a hard time with the PT that she never gained full range of motion in that knee. Glad to hear your husband is doing his exercises.

I went out to eat with the family last night just to get out for a bit. I did ok but had to rest when I got home. The kids and I watched a good movie together and then it was bedtime.

Better finish my coffee and navigate to the chair. :)

Boo
May 26, 2013 - Msg 93651: Happy belated birthday to TOM. :)

Boo