Blood Pressure and Blood Work

As I told the doctor yesterday morning, "I haven't been to the doctor this century!"

I was feeling funny on Saturday after we had finished running the water line to the goat/chicken pen. I thought it was just the stuff I had last week kicking me in the butt again. I was walking up the slight incline from the mailbox when if felt dizzy. When I got back in the house, Sarah said my face was beet red. My soon to be FIFTY year old body has caught up with me - my blood pressure was elevated.

Sunday Morning I didn't feel like going to Sunday School. I woke up about 10:30, too late for morning worship. But I did make it to evening worship. Selinda being the good nurse that she is, offered to take my blood pressure with the sphygmomanometer from the first aid kit in the kitchen.

155/100



So, off to the Doctor in, uh, er... I don't actually remember when I last went to a doctor!!!

And to show off, I beat the numbers from the night before ---

168/108

So after a night of fasting, I head to the lab this morning. Three vials of blood later, I head back to house. I see a change of diet and more pills in my future. We will see for sure Friday morning.

Sick Day

Did I pick up the bug from someone at church or work?

Folks are determine to be in public when they shouldn't. The spread of viruses is at a peak after the holidays. Families are in close contact, traveling cross country and back home - bringing the germs from distant lands with them.

The days of my vacation were spend on the farm. But going back to work on the 3rd, put me in contact with creepy crawly from who knows where. I was cold and chilled all day yesterday.



Here I sit - connected to the email server in New Jersey. Telephone, if needed, is on the table beside the recliner.

So, am I really taking a day off? Oh well, I will blame someone from work for infecting me with this yuk I've got!!!

Another Milestone

A year has passed since I got the call from Sherry that Dad had passed away on that Monday morning.

Freddie and Eletha have four sons. As the Minister delivered the eulogy last Thursday, he said to the boys, “There will be times in the future, when you will want to ask your Dad just one more question.”

Nope. I wouldn't have any questions for Mom and Dad. But I would love to be able to speak to them, or rather, listen to them. I would soak up their words like a sponge. As I sit here at my desk today, finished with my lunch, this would be the time of day I would pick up the phone and give them a call. This is when it really hits me!!!

Mom and Dad, I miss you so much!

Good Day to Stay in Bed?

Below is an article from MSN today...

Today has been declared the most depressing day of the year. This year, make it your call.


The superstitious have long worried about courting bad luck on Friday the 13th and stayed “beware the Ides of March.” But for the past couple of years there has been another day to mark in black on the calendar: The most depressing day of the year.

In 2005, a psychologist named Cliff Arnall (who was, at the time, a part-time lecturer at the University of Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning in Wales), declared that he had devised a formula to calculate the worst day. That year, it was Monday, Jan. 24; last year, Monday, Jan. 23. So watch out, because today may well be 2007’s most miserable day.

Monday, January 23, 2006 - he hit that one on the head!

Arnall’s so-called formula looks like this: [W + (D-d)] x TQM x NA.

All of the letters and symbols apparently represent a sort of mathematical code to track the following:

W: How bad the weather is at this time of year.

D: Amount of debt accumulated over the holidays minus how much is paid off.

T: The time since the holidays.

Q: Amount of time passed since New Year’s resolutions have gone south.

M: Our general motivation levels.

NA: The need to take action.

Now that the fun of the holidays is over, we need to make a plan that gives us something to look forward to. Arnall’s dreaded-day formula was originally commissioned as a public relations stunt for Sky Travel. The company planned to use it as a tool for encouraging depressed people to start booking winter getaways. In the two years since he created it, Arnall and his equation received plenty of January press—and, eventually, lots of backlash.

Several bloggers in Britain, for instance, took issue with Arnall’s pseudoscience, posting entries with titles such as “Will someone please muffle Cliff Arnall.” And an article in the London Times last January, called “Research + PR = a very depressing equation,” exposed Arnall’s prescription as a work for hire rather than a true academic exercise.

“It’s based on no science, no research and it’s incredibly gimmicky,” says Ellen McGrath, Ph.D., president and founder of Bridge Coaching Institute in New York City. “But as a marketing strategy, it’s brilliant.”

Here’s an interesting twist: McGrath concedes that if you dissect the gimmick, Arnall’s equation does take into account some very real issues. “He took several currents of common experience and funneled them into one specific moment,” she says.

The weather—and in particular, the lack of daylight—is an issue in January and February, especially in the northern latitudes. And that’s the primary cause of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Wow, what a fitting acronym!!!

Another universal dilemma around this time of year is debt.. “Buyer’s remorse is a core part of the post-holiday blues,” acknowledges McGrath. “Love is defined as buying a great gift, but when the bills come due in January it can lead to depression.”

Late January is also time to confront reality, say psychologists. Difficult decisions about jobs, family and relationships are often put off until after the holidays. So while we may wake up feeling very positive on Jan. 1, life may look a lot less shiny a few weeks later.

While Arnall’s equation has received its fair share of criticism, most experts agree that if this “day of doom” prediction helps raise awareness about the serious issues of depression and seasonal affective disorder, then, overall that’s a good thing and not harmful. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that almost 18.8 million American adults suffer from depression and nearly six percent of the population is affected by SAD.

Still, plenty of people take offense at such a specific “most depressing day” pronouncement. “It essentially vacates any concept of free will or self-determinism, putting the focus on external events rather than what’s within us,” says Susan C. Vaughn, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University.

Vaughn elaborates: Even if you have maxed out your credit cards, failed at your New Year’s resolutions, and the weather is lousy, not everyone will succumb to depression—especially not all of us on the same day. In fact, some psychologists and life coaches argue that January can be a time of focus and motivation. The frenzy of the holidays is past, and there is time to concentrate on accomplishing new goals.

“It depends on how you interpret it,” says McGrath. “One choice makes you lose power and one makes you gain it."

So Cheer Up, there are better days ahead!

Freddie and Eletha

Eletha was the Sarah's boss for nearly three years. Quality Control Manager to Quality Control Supervisor.

Freddie and Eletha celebrated 40 years of marriage this past summer. Hills and valleys, ups and downs. We knew Freddie mostly from Eletha and the times the three of us had lunch together in the Q.C. office. He was a sick man for about eight years, since he retired from A.Y.P. due to health issues. We only met once, at the department cookout at their house in the summer of 2002. But we shared a common interest. NASCAR!

For me it was a catch as catch can on Sunday afternoon between morning and evening services.

For Freddie it was Sunday! or Saturday night! or the whenever there was a replay on Speed Channel. And anytime Swainsboro Raceway was open, he was there.



Freddie's funeral was this morning at Eleven O'clock. Eight of the Q.C. auditors and myself represented Tumi...

Number 15, take your Victory Lap!

Crazy Weather

It has been too warm 'round here lately!

So warm that Japanese Magnolias, Cherry and Peach Trees are blooming all over!





Narcissus Jonquilla have popped up along the Main and side Streets in Ailey - a sure sign of spring on the way! But General Beauregard Lee, Georgia's Weather Rodent, hasn't even thought about poking his head from his minature plantation house!!!

Now with a change in the weather - it was bone chilling today - they won't hang on much longer! :( But it was a welcomed sight. One down side to a mild winter in these parts - gnat and noseeums are sure to be more plentiful come summer!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

On what would have been your 75th Birthday!

Boxing Day

Being in the south, Boxing Day doesn’t mean much. Mostly, because there are few businesses other than retail stores open the week after Christmas.

Christmas tree is down. Ornaments are packed away. Bead Angels are boxed. Manger scene figurines are gently bubble wrapped. And everything is in the storage closet. Why does it take hours to put everything in exactly the right place and ripping it down and boxing it away takes only a few hours?

I wore long pants today… for the first time since Sunday when I took off my suit after Christmas Eve Services. Christmas day in shorts is a very common occurrence in South Georgia. Next best chance for shorts will occur on Thursday, for certain on Friday. Weather forecasting by pants, gotta love it.

Merry Christmas

The rain came down in buckets last night/this morning. A gust of wind was strong enough to knock over the small plant on the patio table on the back deck. A check on the roads conditions when there was sufficient light to see revealed ankle deep water across the road. But the need for rain greatly out weighs any inconvenience the mud and muck might cause.

One of the fastest growing plants in southern Georgia is our variety of privet hedge. Along the lane that separates the Farm from the Planted Pines are thousands of these plants. After the main front of the rain had pass by this morning, we transferred about two dozen of the small shrubs around the goat/chicken pen. Another five or seven minutes of rain, while we were eating lunch, helped to water in the tender young plants in their new home.

And lunch!!! Cousin Janice surprised us with Christmas lunch:

Turkey and Dressing
Giblet Gravy
Creamed Green Peas
Cranberry Sauce
Ambrosia
Sweet Potato Soufflé

I had to take a nap and a walk in the woods afterwards. IN THAT ORDER!

By the way: Ducks won!

Christmas Eve

When you are awakened at 3:58 by an incoming text message on the cell phone from a phishing company and it take an hour to get back to sleep, it is much easier to “sleep in” the next morning.

7:45 was my rising time this morning. Dressed and ready for Sunday School and out the door at 9:15. Christmas Eve service was beautiful and after the last Amen was said, the “Pond Sitters” were gathered by all those that wanted one (or two, or more). We loaded four into the PT Cruiser for us and Mama.

My brother-in-law and I rode to the beaver pond this afternoon. It would seem that a couple of ducks, which should be on the farm pond, has taken up habitation about a quarter mile away in the backed up Big Branch! Maurice has borrowed a large live trap to try to capture the gone astray pair. With corn as bait on the trip mechanism, it is now a game of men and ducks.

The traditional Christmas Eve meal of Chili was started early this afternoon and with the Yule fire crackling in the fireplace, all is to do is to wait for the Jolly Fat Guy to make his appearance. Oh, by the way... the air conditioner is not running (at the moment)!

Vacation Day 2

Goldfinch said:

Wouldn't you know... I shut the alarm off last night because today is the first
day that I have had off in over two weeks and I can sleep late... BUT I woke up
promptly at 6:00 AM anyway.

Torry said:

Great. Now I've lost the ability to sleep in, in the mornings.

I know the feeling... The alarm is set for 5:44 on days that I jbex. This has been the case since we moved into our home in May of 2000. I woke as wide-eye this morning at just after 6 AM… I was craving coffee! And coffee was my goal! I opened the canister and the aroma of the beans filled my nostrils. The perfume de café alone was enough to raise my caffeine level.

Coffee and forums and email.

The rains in the past thirty six hours have made the roads like mire in places. The ruts were deep as I make my way for errands in town.

I finally finished the Christmas village. It only took me two weeks to get back on it and only thirty minutes of effort to place the last of the polyvinylchloride snow in place.

A ride on the golf cart into the woods and to the pond later this afternoon; I tossed a few of the fish pellets into the water. A large White Perch broke the surface with a splash. The rods hanging in the garage were at the pond and Beetle Spins were in the water in minutes. Nine of the Blue Gills were gullible enough to think that the grub like plastic would be good for dinner. Guess what we had for dinner!!!

Whether Weather

It has been a strange weather week around the country.

In the Northwest, over 1,000,000 folks were without electricity at the beginning of the week. From winds over the past weekend, some over hurricane strength, limbs and entire trees took down power lines. Snow in the mountains added to the grief. With one body recovered and two still unaccounted for, Mount Hood has added to its victims.

In Colorado, there was over 2 foot of snow, shutting down the Denver airport from Tuesday night until this afternoon. It is said some of the folk may not get flight out till Christmas day. News report video has shown families “camping” in the airport, making the best of a bad situation. And the storm system is heading for the U.P. of Michigan.

Winter Solstice occurred last evening at 7:22 EST, the longest night of the year. Rain started falling shortly thereafter here in South Georgia. Much needed rain. We are way below normal rainfall for the year, with only eight days before the new calendar from the hardware store is positioned in place of the old, nearly expired calendar.

But it was a warm rain… I feed the goats and chickens this morning in my khaki shorts. After I came in and took my daily shower, I dressed in blue jeans and a tee shirt. That lasted about 10 minutes; I retrieved another pair of shorts from the closet. Metro was actually panting this afternoon.

The first full day of winter in the south - that too - is strange. Will I have to turn on the air conditioner to be able to enjoy the Yule Log in the fireplace Christmas Eve?

A Cheerios Meet

It has been said, “Cheerios Meets are the Best” – well, they are!!!

Even when the circumstances are not the greatest.

Tee (Pyewacket) made a slight detour from the normal route that one would take from Central South Carolina to San Antonio, Texas. She had open reservations at the Rainbow Inn. Saturday night around 7:45, she landed on our doorstep. Tired and road weary, she rested and refreshed after 279 miles (the first leg of her journey).

Pippin (her 110 pound German Shepherd) and Tetley (her calico cat) were her travel companions. Wasn’t anyone going to bother Tee with those sentries on duty.

Tea was given as gifts and tea was shared. We had one of the green teas from Taiwan that I received during my Asian trip last November/December. After some announcements in Cheers and Wheypoint, we called it a night and turned in for the evening.

Sunday morning was busy!!! As we prepared ourselves for church, Tee attempted to load new maps into her GPSr. Metro kept her company during Sunday morning worship time. Later, Tee would unloaded her wheel chair and visit with Molly, Sugar and Spice. Molly was not real happy with a huge dog barking so close to her kids.

When we arrived back home, Tee asked me to check the electrical connection on the driver’s seat. With a disconnect of the negative battery terminal for safety and three inches of electrical tape, the wiring was as good as new!

I went caching with Tee… REPEAT, PRN!

We traveled the 0.10 miles to Double Rainbow Cache. Unable to reach the actual cache herself, she pointed out the likely hiding spot and I retrieved the bright yellow First Aid Kit for her. She left a couple of crafty kits, a miniature cowbell


(“We need more COWBELL”)

...and a rainbow plushie that never actually went into cache container. The multi-color critter rode home with us on the golf cart. From the cache, she retrieved “Little Tree” (a HoppingCrow travel bug) and one of the bead Angels. They served as reminder of those who were thinking and praying for her as she traveled.

When we got back to the carport, I told Tee of my plans to order a Geocaching clingy sticker like the one on her windshield. She immediately ripped it off and handed it to me. It now resides on the back glass of my pickup truck.

Then it was time for phase two of the expedition. With a sweep through the house to make sure nothing was left behind, Tee and Pippin (Tetley never really got out of the van) loaded up and with hugs all around, we said our ‘goodbyes and safe travels’.

240 miles later, Tee stopped for the evening south of Montgomery, Alabama.

Monday – someone lit a fire under her behind!!! 780 miles and around 8:00 CST she arrived at her son’s house.

We had followed her progress via the Pyewacket Sighting Network, with many prayers and good thoughts surrounding her. I couldn’t have been any more tired and worn if I had driven the miles myself.

The Troll under the Bridge!

Pigs

The preacher was doing a canvas of the community when he came upon a pleasant enough farmer. When the subject changed to the preacher inviting the farmer to Sunday services, the clodhopper's disposition became very sour.

“Ya know, Preacher! You will never get me in your church. You got a member there that has been owing me money for years,” the farmer snapped.

“Have you confronted this individual about this debt?” responded the preacher.

“Oh, he knows about it!!! Ya ain’t getting me inside the building with the likes of that fellow. In fact, I’m sure that most of the rest of them folk are just like that cheat!!!”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“Well, you heard of the ol’ saying – ‘Birds of a feather, flock together’. “

Thinking his time would be better spent elsewhere, the Preacher excuses himself and leaves the farmer to his chores.

Days later, the preacher returns to the farmer’s place and tell him that he wants to buy one of his pigs.

“Sure thing, Preacher!!! Just tell me which one you want.”

The preacher stands on the second rung of the gate and points to the very back of the feed lot, “I’ll take that spotted one by the back fence.”

Surprise to see that the preacher has selected the skinniest and ugliest pig from the herd, the farmer gave the preacher a puzzled look, “OK, Preacher! Are ya sure you want that one? Any of the others would be a better choice!”

“Nope, I think that one will do nicely.”

“Uh, whatcha got in mind for that one?”

“I plan to put that pig in the back of my pick-up and ride it all around town. I’m going make sure everyone know that I got that pig from your farm. Wonder if folk will start to think that all of your pigs look like that one?”

The ol’ farmer curled one side of his mouth and said, “What time do y’all start the Sunday Service at that church, anyway?

Sugar and Spice are growing!

12 days old!

Sugar is 5 pounds 6 ounces
Spice is 5 pounds 10 ounces

They are little fuzz balls of bouncing energy. AND, they love the bridge I built for them over the weekend. Now we need a Troll, to live under the bridge.

23 years...

Brandi was just a few weeks old. One of my least favorite daily tasks was lessen by my decision that day. I would grow a beard. The bristles grew in red. Red versus the brown of the thick mass of hair that grows on my top of my head. Well the red has given way to grey and white over the past few years. So much so that my beard was almost invisible when I trimmed it on Saturday evenings for Sunday services and on Wednesday mornings.

I didn't cut it all! I left the moustache - it has been part of me for 30 years. I don't think I would even know how to shave my upper lip! And I also left a goatee. What I shaved away was the the whiter portions.

So what caused me to part with something that has been with me almost half of my life? I'm still not sure!

By the way, what is this short stubble all over my face? I forgot what is was like to have a five o'clock shadow!

Mystery Girl

Hi Laura...
When I was singing in the Choir this morning I almost saw someone.
She was wearing this real cute green sweater. Did you happen to see her?
She came in and had a seat beside her dad. Did you happen to see her?
I turned around as soon as services were over to see if she was still there.
She was gone!!! Did you see where she went???

> insert :sad and disappointed smilie: <

Oh well! I was good almost seeing YOU this morning!!!

The Frog Prince , 1971

Sweetums, lay your ugly head
Down upon your wretched bed.
Close your eyes and go to sleep,
You hulking heap.
Sweetums is so sweet and cute,
Go to sleep your stupid brute.

Sweetums lay your ugly head
Down upon your wretched bed
Bunnykins is sweet and cute
Rest, you giant, stupid brute.

Sweetums lay your ugly head
Down upon your wretched bed.
Close your eyes and go to sleep
Rest, you giant, hulking heap.

NIGHTY-NIGHT... *THUD*

Sugar and Spice

Minnie and Maddie are now Sugar 'n Spice. We have broke our traditional of names our animals with names that start with the letter 'M'.

They are one week old today. And they are the sweetest little things.
Sugar tipped the scales on Saturday at 3 pounds 0.2 ounces.
While Spice was a tad heavier at 3 pounds 4.2 ounces.

Goat Playground