Thanks again, Dad!!

I just finished an evening of firearm cleaning...

2 pistols

3 rifles

2 shotguns.

Included in these, was my Dad's Mossberg 20 gauge that was bought for him in 1957, shortly after I arrived in this world.

He gave it to me Christmas of 2005. Dad passed away January 23. 2006.

Dad called me just before Mom passed away, October 20, 2005. He asked me for my SS# and he didn't really give me a reason why he need it. But I knew it was for a good reason. Shortly thereafter he broke his right wrist.

I plan to do some shooting with my son-in-law over the Thanksgiving weekend - therefore the marathon cleaning session. I took the butt-plate off of the stock just to be sure everything was clean. As I removed the butt-plate, I noticed something in the wood.

I put on my reading glasses - two sets of 9 digit numbers.

One is my Social Security number. A quick check of my Dad's DD-214 (I put a copy in the back of Funeral Flag case), confirmed the other set of numbers was my Dad's Social. In the grain of this 50+ year old wood is preserved our Social Security numbers, engraved most likely with his Case XX pocket knife. This, for sure, would been one of the last time he "wrote".

Thanks again, Dad!!

Dessert Contest

It's that time of year again...



Wow, what a sugar rush!!!

I was feeling not the best yesterday and only had Townhouse crackers and pimento cheese with cranberry juice for supper last night. So this morning's sugar - judging of Desserts for the Thanksgiving Dinner hit me right between the eyes.

Results of the judging will be posted this afternoon after the awards are presented!

And the entries are:

Black Midnight Pilgrim Turkey Cupcakes

Canied Apple Pie Cheesecake

Third Place

5 Way Chocolate Cake

Banana Sour Cream Cake


Apple Pecan Cobbler

Coconut Praline Pie

Second Place

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crisp

First Place

Raspberry Swril Cheese Cake

Japanese Fruit Pie

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Metro Monday

Metro has a couple of sweaters and jackets for cold weather wear. He recently acquired a new military style jacket that a Daschund had outgrown it. Saturday's weather was chilly and the afternoon sunshine made for a glow that accented Metro's hair perfectly.

And Saturday night, Sarah put on his "pajamas". Again, so he could be warm.

Through a glass refracting...

This afternoon, I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As I stood there with glass in hand I notice the sun dancing through the sugar shaker that was used this morning for our coffee.

I sat the glass of water in the sunbeam.

A jelly glass

A bottle of hand soap

The steam of a dessert dish

The base of the dessert glass

But you offered me a discount!!!

Two emergency room visits this summer...

Fifty dollar co-pay per emergency room visit...

Waiting for the insurance company to make payment to the hospital...

Making sure the EOB is correct...

Getting the actual bills from the hospital...

Writing the check for the $100 balance, this week and mailing it on Tuesday...

Getting a call for the "outside" billing office yesterday afternoon: "If you pay your balance now, we can offer you a 50% discount..." This message is left on our answering machine. So I call back the number on the caller id. I say that I would like to take advantage of the offer. And then I tell the phone drone that I have already made a payment.

"Oh!?!?" She doesn't know how to handle the situation. She will check with her supervisor and the billing office and make the promise to call me back.

SHE DOESN'T!!!

I called back and got another phone drone. She, too, tries to offer me the discount. Then she bring up my account. "Oh, it now shows a $0 balance. I can't offer you a discount on a $0 balance."

Will I be calling the hospital Monday morning??? I've already complained about the lack of care from the Emergency Room doctors. Those docters were "fired" as the result of my and others complaints. And at that time was told the CEO would "get back with you". He hadn't.

So this time I start with the money guy -
Chief Financial Officer Michael Hester (478) 448-4050 mailto:mhester@dodgecountyhospital.com


Then -
CEO Kevin L. Bierschenk (478) 448-4066 kbierschenk@dodgecountyhospital.com

And then -
Administrative Assistant Esther Daugherty (478) 448-4067 mailto:estherdaugherty@dodgecountyhospital.com


Fifty bucks is fifty bucks!!!

I knows me some Puppies!

Click on the pup above to take the quiz!!??

Veterans' Day 2008

On behalf of the President of the United States, a grateful nation and the United States Army please accept this flag as a token of our appreciation for your Father's honorable and faithful service.

God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.