tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79172180258286000672024-03-13T08:32:54.184-04:00Captive AudienceThinking about stuff...jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-16853334573863244212016-11-09T07:43:00.004-05:002019-06-19T20:53:12.982-04:00Uncle Bill Turns 89!This was my blog from November 9, 2016. Uncle Bill was living in a nursing home. His wife, Lucille had died a year or two before. We went to visit him on his birthday. We came to eat with him in the dining room where he lived. He shared the table with 2 other residents, Madge and Donna.<br />
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Yesterday was Uncle Bill's Birthday. George and I went to visit him.<br />
He was sitting on the sofa waiting for someone to come in and take him to dinner. As soon as I poked my head in, he got excited. We gave him his gift, which he just took a quick look at and pushed aside, not trying to even look at his card. I pinned his "Happy Birthday" award pin on his shirt and got him to his feet. Down to the dining room we went.<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill was a mess. He was wearing an unwashed favorite shirt. He had spilled food on it that he camouflaged with masking tape. He was always such a fastidious person so it always surprises me to see him in any type of disarray. He was wearing blue jeans with flannel plaid pajama pants on top of them, creating a new fashion look.<br />
<br />
I sit with him and his 2 elderly table mates at the table. Right away they notice his Happy Birthday badge.<br />
Madge: What is that thing?<br />
Me: Today is his birthday.<br />
Madge: Happy Birthday Bill.<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill: An alarm went off today. They cannot get the alarm to go off. It is a shame all that noise. <br />
Donna: What is that thing on his shirt?<br />
Me: Today is his birthday.<br />
Donna: What? I cannot hear you.<br />
Me: It is his birthday.(yelling)<br />
Uncle Bill: It is so annoying when the alarm sounds. They need to learn to shut it off. No one knows how to.<br />
<br />
Madge: It is cold in here.<br />
Me: Yes it is a little cool.<br />
Madge: What is that thing on his shirt?<br />
Donna: Why is it so cold in here?<br />
Uncle Bill: My mother hates it when that alarm goes off. <br />
<br />
Uncle Bill likes the cranberry juice. He is drinking it. He understands that today is his birthday. He hefts the glass at me.<br />
Uncle Bill: Is this wine?<br />
What the heck.<br />
<br />
Me: Yes, this is wine. Happy Birthday.<br />
Uncle Bill looks very pleased. As the dinner goes on, he gets "drunker" on the "wine."<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill: Sure hope the cardinal or the bishop doesn't come through here and see me drinking all this wine. I might be in big trouble. I intend to get highly polluted on this wine. (He was never a drinker so I don't think he ever got highly polluted but he likes to think he did.)<br />
<br />
He drinks up the one glass of cranberry juice and I give him another that was extra. He hefts it in the air at Donna. "Want to get drunk?"<br />
Donna is offended. "Why did you say that?" Her voice rises. Obviously she is not happy with his offer.<br />
I explain to her that I told him the cranberry juice was wine.<br />
Donna: I don't know why he said that. I never drink!<br />
<br />
By this time he had finished the cranberry juice/wine and was now drinking Ensure Original Vanilla which also had the ability to make him somewhat giddy. He giggled and raised his glass above his head. "To the Candleabra Kids."<br />
<br />
Donna: What is that pin on your shirt?<br />
Me: It is his birthday.<br />
Donna: How old is he?<br />
Me: Uncle Bill, how old are you?<br />
Uncle Bill: Um about 76 I think.<br />
Me: You wish. You are 89 years old today.<br />
Uncle Bill: No way! Holy cow! I'm on fire!<br />
<br />
There was more...so much more. But you had to be there to feel it. He kept looking around for my aunt and wondering why she had not gotten to dinner yet. (She died 2 years ago) But he did not seem to be upset by it, just curious.<br />
<br />
I did figure out what his favorite thing is for a birthday present. It is seeing his family.<br />
<br />
And maybe just a bit of Cranberry Juice Wine and Ensure Cocktails. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eAKJG4305mU/WCMjWDgItRI/AAAAAAAABNM/L0TyFzZy_gYqYwUulIqy8L0AkkyzzxKmwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eAKJG4305mU/WCMjWDgItRI/AAAAAAAABNM/L0TyFzZy_gYqYwUulIqy8L0AkkyzzxKmwCLcB/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-19974203997898495992016-11-09T07:43:00.003-05:002016-11-09T08:31:47.917-05:00Uncle Bill Turns 89!Yesterday was Uncle Bill's Birthday. George and I went to visit him.<br />
He was sitting on the sofa waiting for someone to come in and take him to dinner. As soon as I poked my head in, he got excited. We gave him his gift, which he just took a quick look at and pushed aside, not trying to even look at his card. I pinned his "Happy Birthday" award pin on his shirt and got him to his feet. Down to the dining room we went.<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill was a mess. He was wearing an unwashed favorite shirt. He had spilled food on it that he camouflaged with masking tape. He was always such a fastidious person so it always surprises me to see him in any type of disarray. He was wearing blue jeans with flannel plaid pajama pants on top of them, creating a new fashion look.<br />
<br />
I sit with him and his 2 elderly table mates at the table. Right away they notice his Happy Birthday badge.<br />
Madge: What is that thing?<br />
Me: Today is his birthday.<br />
Madge: Happy Birthday Bill.<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill: An alarm went off today. They cannot get the alarm to go off. It is a shame all that noise. <br />
Donna: What is that thing on his shirt?<br />
Me: Today is his birthday.<br />
Donna: What? I cannot hear you.<br />
Me: It is his birthday.(yelling)<br />
Uncle Bill: It is so annoying when the alarm sounds. They need to learn to shut it off. No one knows how to.<br />
<br />
Madge: It is cold in here.<br />
Me: Yes it is a little cool.<br />
Madge: What is that thing on his shirt?<br />
Donna: Why is it so cold in here?<br />
Uncle Bill: My mother hates it when that alarm goes off. <br />
<br />
Uncle Bill likes the cranberry juice. He is drinking it. He understands that today is his birthday. He hefts the glass at me.<br />
Uncle Bill: Is this wine?<br />
What the heck.<br />
<br />
Me: Yes, this is wine. Happy Birthday.<br />
Uncle Bill looks very pleased. As the dinner goes on, he gets "drunker" on the "wine."<br />
<br />
Uncle Bill: Sure hope the cardinal or the bishop doesn't come through here and see me drinking all this wine. I might be in big trouble. I intend to get highly polluted on this wine. (He was never a drinker so I don't think he ever got highly polluted but he likes to think he did.)<br />
<br />
He drinks up the one glass of cranberry juice and I give him another that was extra. He hefts it in the air at Donna. "Want to get drunk?"<br />
Donna is offended. "Why did you say that?" Her voice rises. Obviously she is not happy with his offer.<br />
I explain to her that I told him the cranberry juice was wine.<br />
Donna: I don't know why he said that. I never drink!<br />
<br />
By this time he had finished the cranberry juice/wine and was now drinking Ensure Original Vanilla which also had the ability to make him somewhat giddy. He giggled and raised his glass above his head. "To the Candleabra Kids."<br />
<br />
Donna: What is that pin on your shirt?<br />
Me: It is his birthday.<br />
Donna: How old is he?<br />
Me: Uncle Bill, how old are you?<br />
Uncle Bill: Um about 76 I think.<br />
Me: You wish. You are 89 years old today.<br />
Uncle Bill: No way! Holy cow! I'm on fire!<br />
<br />
There was more...so much more. But you had to be there to feel it. He kept looking around for my aunt and wondering why she had not gotten to dinner yet. (She died 2 years ago) But he did not seem to be upset by it, just curious.<br />
<br />
I did figure out what his favorite thing is for a birthday present. It is seeing his family.<br />
<br />
And maybe just a bit of Cranberry Juice Wine and Ensure Cocktails. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eAKJG4305mU/WCMjWDgItRI/AAAAAAAABNM/L0TyFzZy_gYqYwUulIqy8L0AkkyzzxKmwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eAKJG4305mU/WCMjWDgItRI/AAAAAAAABNM/L0TyFzZy_gYqYwUulIqy8L0AkkyzzxKmwCLcB/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-35973455183475534232016-08-22T13:56:00.002-04:002016-08-22T13:56:24.677-04:00The Perils of Uncle Bill Sunday is our day to visit with Uncle Bill. We have gotten into a routine. UB loves to sleep and so I go to his room, knock loudly on the door for 5 minutes (he keeps losing his hearing aids) and finally have to get an aide to let me in. (UB is the only resident that locks his door when he is in there.) Once I get in, I roust him out of bed. He is usually in a trance as I get him up, get his shoes on, find his glasses and get him ready to go to the dining room.<br />
But yesterday was different. UB was already down in the dining room. He was even down to his last 2 cookies when we got there. (The 2 cookies took him 45 minutes to eat but still...) As he chewed resolutely away I noticed that his top dentures, the ones he lost a couple weeks ago, appeared to be back. Not only did they catch MY eye, they caught the eye of a wife sitting at the table with her husband. Unfortunately we have been finding her husbands personal items in UB's room, a wallet with 42 dollars in it, and a Bible. UB said they just "appeared" in the room. We returned them to his wife and she was thrilled. However, she was a little concerned about his dentures.<br />
<br />
Wife: Are those my husband's dentures? (She and I watched UB as he flipped them around expertly in his mouth several times and removed them to lick off the cookie crumbs.)<br />
<br />
Me: I don't think so. His were missing for a couple of weeks and now he has them back.<br />
<br />
Wife: My husband's are missing too.<br />
<br />
She looked intently at the dentures. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2dhnj0enWU/V7s713VPOuI/AAAAAAAABM4/g65lZhlgQ8IeVvg8jGSOuyZuCJJdyP5_gCEw/s1600/funny-denture-eyes-isolated-over-white-background-50998490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2dhnj0enWU/V7s713VPOuI/AAAAAAAABM4/g65lZhlgQ8IeVvg8jGSOuyZuCJJdyP5_gCEw/s320/funny-denture-eyes-isolated-over-white-background-50998490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wife: They look just like his.<br />
<br />
Me: How could they fit if they are his? They are fitted to each mouth.<br />
<br />
We both watch as UB flips the dentures out yet again. Did they fit or not? He hates to use Polygrip so they are constantly coming out.<br />
<br />
So I called the dentist who ordered the dentures for him. They no longer have a record of them. Nor is there any identifying mark on the dentures. Basically, "if they fit, they are his." Not helpful in this case. I decided to see what UB thought about it.<br />
<br />
Me: UB, where did you get those dentures?<br />
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UB: (He blinked.) Um....in my room.<br />
<br />
So there I had it. We are on the lookout for stray dentures. <br />
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<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-29209121760063658792016-06-11T14:17:00.004-04:002016-06-11T14:17:47.173-04:00<span style="font-size: large;">BUTTERED TOAST</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a class="rg_l" href="https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F2Ush-1esQ-4%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2Ush-1esQ-4&docid=JKvlFCgDy9UjaM&tbnid=aHjXL09KThi_BM%3A&w=1694&h=1122&bih=867&biw=1143&ved=0ahUKEwjPtMz0saDNAhUBLVIKHYbdBUIQMwhDKAgwCA&iact=mrc&uact=8" style="height: 183px; left: 0px; width: 220px;"><span class="rg_ilmn"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: orange;">Buttered Toast</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Image result for buttered toast" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" name="ItJH5NBewOJ0iM:" 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" 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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"> Our last visit with Uncle Bill contains some vivid memories. I must confess to experiencing some humiliation. <i>Why is it MY uncle who wants to wear his pajama tops all day long? Why is he the only one with food on his face and the gleam of butter dripping on his hand as he eats? </i>But, in retrospect, I'm not sure I have a right to be embarrassment. He is in a memory care unit, surrounded by other elderly people in various stages of dementia. Could anything could be considered humiliating in that particular scenario?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> But there we were. Everyone else seemed to be with the program except my uncle. He was in the dining room, at a table with two other ladies. They made no comments during the meal, which was a welcome relief from the endless Uncle Bill chatter about everything and nothing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Uncle Bill had eaten his dinner and was now moving to the long-awaited 2 pieces of toasted bread waiting for him. My family has always had some odd quirks about buttered toast and my sister and I have bemoaned the existence of buttered toast our whole lives. It seemed as though our relatives on my mother's side went into a "Buttered Toast Trance" whenever they enjoyed this delicacy. They would chew resolutely, staring off into space in that Buttered Toast Land that my sister and I were never a part of. They would remain in the BT Trance until all of the toast was gone, and then return to the rest of the conversation and their meal. (If you are a Seinfeld fan, you may remember the man who would do this when the song <i>Desperado</i> came on the radio. Same response, different stimulus.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> When I arrived, Uncle Bill was in his own version of Buttered Toast Land. In his case, this meant a running commentary on the benefits of buttered toast and periodic and orgasmic groaning, as he expressed his satisfaction and ecstasy from the partaking of the toast.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "MMM" he moaned. "This is sooo good! If you get it when the toast is right out of the oven, and the butter is soft, it sinks right into the toast! MMMM! AHHH! So good!" (He was actually saying this as he chewed the Buttered Toast, which was a problem for his not-really-sealed-dentures. A lot was going on in Uncle Bill's mouth all at once that involved chewing, groaning, denture flipping, talking and moaning.) It was a sight to behold.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I listened to more of the Uncle Bill History of Buttered Toast. He scraped away at the surface of the toast with the knife, expounding on the greatness of Buttered Toast.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "My father used to love Buttered Toast. He would come home in the back of the car. Dad would be wallowing in the back seat in butter."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I filed that mental image away in an area of things I do not ever want to revisit in my mind. He finished spreading the butter on his toast and pronounced, "That was the best coverage I ever got."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am guessing that there is a lot more family history involving Buttered Toast that my sister and I were not privy to know as children. As for me, I know more now than I ever wanted to. </span><br />
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<br /><a class="rg_l" href="https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F2Ush-1esQ-4%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2Ush-1esQ-4&docid=JKvlFCgDy9UjaM&tbnid=aHjXL09KThi_BM%3A&w=1694&h=1122&bih=867&biw=1143&ved=0ahUKEwjgg4ycyqDNAhUI0WMKHV2_BW8QMwhCKAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8" style="height: 175px; left: 0px; width: 267px;"><img alt="Image result for buttered toast" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" name="aHjXL09KThi_BM:" 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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-86344849570612969142016-04-15T14:18:00.001-04:002016-04-15T14:18:40.737-04:00That Time Of Life Is Here<span style="font-size: large;">You know that time of life that you think is always far off? The one where you actually age? That part of life that you scoff at, young person as you are, knowing that you have your whole life to get to that point.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That time of slow drivers, pants drawn up to the waist, gray hair, endless doctor visits, constant conversations about doctors and medical bills. And coupons.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the memories of what once was. A far better pre-technology era that you grew up in. Face it. You're an old fogie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our timetime looks like this: Empty Nest...menopause...aging ungracefully.....elder care...retirement...more elder care...death. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout all of these steps are constant reminders that I am not as young as I used to be. All of my doctors, and they form quite a hefty team, The Jeanne Team, I call them, love to see me coming. Not only do I gift them with a variety of unusual medical issues to test their medical know-how, I do it at a frequent regularity so that they have no chance to unlearn their practice, which is a risk with older doctors.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are moving along at warp speed now. Now is the time to ramp up our traveling. George and I are a strong case for the "You should travel while you are young" bunch. When we look at possible trips, we have to consider amount of energy expended, necessary walking or (gulp) climbing and amount of flesh that will be visible in a bathing suit. Dietary restrictions are also a concern. Yes we can go "hog wild" (pun intended) on the cruise ship but we will pay for it in the weeks after. Long airline trips don't seem as fun as they once did and a long car trip is out of the question as both of us would fall asleep at the wheel. Not to mention the number of required potty breaks. So the answer seems to be short and productive trips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: George, we are going on a road trip. Get your sunglasses and wallet and let's boogie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">George: (excited to be traveling) Where are we going?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: (drawing it our, for the excitement factor) We are going to Target Super Store. I thought maybe we could have chicken tonight.<br />George: We had that last night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: That was Orange Chicken. Tonight...lemon chicken!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">George smiles: OK.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our road trip lasts for 45 minutes. We observe 2 butterflies in the garden, see 4 egrets in the park and a little terrier puppy. We see 3 Mini Cooper cars like ours. And we drop off a bag of clothes at Good Will and chat with the woman on duty.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All in all, a pretty darn successful road trip if I do say so myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-30866944454352648832016-03-07T20:03:00.000-05:002016-03-07T20:03:02.965-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> How Do They Do It? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Reflections on the Levinson Family</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The human spirit is an amazing thing. Like the Timex watch, it can take a licking and keep on ticking. But what makes a person, no, an entire family able to handle continued stress day after day for 9 long years?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JeI6wjAgphU/Vt4f7ZZU1zI/AAAAAAAABME/he3sGgRJvuE/s1600/12806197_1565020353789456_2654066675109930691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JeI6wjAgphU/Vt4f7ZZU1zI/AAAAAAAABME/he3sGgRJvuE/s320/12806197_1565020353789456_2654066675109930691_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have pondered this question over and over as I consider the events this family has been through. If you do not know about Robert Levinson ( I find that hard to believe) but he was abducted in Iran 9 years ago as of this Wednesday, March 9. His disappearance has been an unsolved mystery all this time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have known this family for about 30 years, I guess. I have taught several of the children. The Levinsons are a unique family in today's world. Old fashioned values, strong sense of familial togetherness and respect are the common denominators at work. The parents were devoted to each other and to their 7 children, always available for parent conferences, meetings and school family nights. Education was a priority and it showed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In March of 2007, Robert Levinson embarked on a business trip to Iran and was detained on the island of Kish. The life that this family knew was torn apart instantly. Yet that strength, that bond that pulled that family together has continued to work its magic for all these years. the mother, Christine, is their rock and the children, now grown, some married with children of their own remain united in their efforts to bring their father home to them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On March 5, my husband and I attended a rally in Coral Springs to draw attention to the fact that he is still missing. I watched this family, that I am so proud of, come together as they spoke to the crowd. I cried with them and again marveled anew at their focus and determination, love and hope. Bob Levinson will return to his family. He will recognize the legacy of love and commitment that he passed on to his children.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FftF1MEx4oU/Vt4kVs_wupI/AAAAAAAABMY/cUjIQW79964/s1600/20160305_151724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FftF1MEx4oU/Vt4kVs_wupI/AAAAAAAABMY/cUjIQW79964/s320/20160305_151724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-82534208105859330152016-01-18T18:04:00.000-05:002016-01-18T18:04:31.537-05:00The Keystone Cops RIde Again<span style="font-size: small;">It has been an interesting and exhausting week in CareGiverVille, USA. This week we transitioned Uncle Bill from independent (sort-of) living to the Memory Care Unit. Change is never good for Uncle Bill and so we thought we were prepared for everything. We were not.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Picture this scenario. We have moved into the new building. Uncle Bill's aide has helped us to get his stuff moved in efficiently and carefully. We decide to go to lunch together. We head out the door, George and I, Uncle Bill with his walker, and his aide, Jackie. Despite the fact that he does not want to go, and says he is not hungry, he manages to scarf down his lunch. We start back for the new room. The trouble begins.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Uncle Bill takes the lead, away from the new building and back to the old building. He is moving faster with that walker than most joggers I have seen. We are huffing and puffing behind him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Me: Uncle Bill, you are going the wrong way!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UB: I know exactly where I am going!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">George grabs hold of his walker to slow him down. UB flings himself away from the walker and hotfoots it toward the old building walkerless. That 87 year old can move. We wave over a security guard and he radios for help. Pretty soon we have a parade....Uncle Bill, Jackie (aide), George with the walker, me, the Security Guard and the head nurse all following along in hot pursuit. </span><br />
<br />
The Keystone Cops in action.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuV6U0KL-0I/VpxLl3VQLcI/AAAAAAAABLk/OZPo30h2Us8/s1600/is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuV6U0KL-0I/VpxLl3VQLcI/AAAAAAAABLk/OZPo30h2Us8/s320/is.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way did he go?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that was just the first day. He was fitted with an "Anti-Escape" thingy that he wears on his wrist. He keeps eyeing the Exit Door at the new place though.<br />
<br />
Today he complained that he has not been outside all week. He wants to get out in the fresh air. I responded to that.<br />
<br />
Me: UB, last time I took you somewhere, you ran away from me. I cannot keep up with you. I am not taking you outside myself.<br />
UB: I did not run away. I just wanted to show you how to get to the old apartment.<br />
<br />
Then, as usual, he changed the subject.<br />
They say it takes a few weeks for them to adjust. The staff is very loving, and have lots of activities, which he refuses to participate in.<br />
It is hard being old.jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-34373988670068899562016-01-03T17:34:00.002-05:002016-01-04T02:56:18.891-05:00Familiar and Unfamiliar<br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Familiar and Unfamiliar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess it was good to let UB
know that he would be moving from his familiar apartment to an unknown place,
at least to him, in the Memory Care Unit where he lives. I know it is
filled with loving and caring people, it is clean, bright and friendly, it has
activities and fun things for the residents. But UB just sees it as a scary
place that is not what he is used to. And it is making him….well, really crabby.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bvxyv-F_erE/VomfcxdHCuI/AAAAAAAABLM/KagQ774hhaI/s1600/is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bvxyv-F_erE/VomfcxdHCuI/AAAAAAAABLM/KagQ774hhaI/s200/is.jpg" width="194" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is trying to gain control
back. He wants to do the packing and the planning and make the decisions, all
of which are impossible for him. He is angry with me for making decisions for
him. He accuses George and I of wanting to steal all of his worldly belongings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For the last few days, he has
set up little tea parties in the living room and dining room. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2gkVbHhmQvM/VomcoewNxCI/AAAAAAAABLA/vNB0a76MOYI/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2gkVbHhmQvM/VomcoewNxCI/AAAAAAAABLA/vNB0a76MOYI/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea Party Ala Uncle Bill</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He expects people
to come to visit, but is not sure why they don’t show up. He tells stories of
groups of people visiting him in his living room, watching TV together. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is
restless, pacing back and forth, endlessly searching for missing items. He has lost hearing aids, teeth, an adult bib, 2 checks
from his annuity, and all of the mail that arrived for 2 weeks, till I had it
switched over to my house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today we started to pack. It
was stressful. I had to separate what he packs from what I pack, because not
all of it is going to the new place. He is confused and not sure what
belongs to him. (It all does but he thinks some of it belongs to the retirement association.) He keeps getting between me and what I am packing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My original
intent was to stay all day till the packing was done but after 2 hours, I am
done. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow the movers come…and we start again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ljd5Gieb5Iw/VomgMWWLuHI/AAAAAAAABLU/dbZ71kFZ1k0/s1600/is-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ljd5Gieb5Iw/VomgMWWLuHI/AAAAAAAABLU/dbZ71kFZ1k0/s320/is-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<br />
<br />
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jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-30622304720117229132015-12-21T17:33:00.002-05:002016-11-28T17:58:43.705-05:00People in Hot Water<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arhLyjHqEn0/Vnh-JaGXKyI/AAAAAAAABKw/ASMh4ChN9qs/s1600/th-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arhLyjHqEn0/Vnh-JaGXKyI/AAAAAAAABKw/ASMh4ChN9qs/s1600/th-1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was Sunday. Our day to visit with Uncle Bill. Our Sunday morning routine. Get there about 11 AM. See what groceries and personal items he needs for the week and George leaves to go get them. I busy myself with setting up his medications for the week so the aide can give them to him. Sometimes he is sleeping at this time. Yesterday he was awake. On the days he is awake he always starts off the same way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: (stares at me) Well! You're here!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Yes I am, UB.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">90 seconds of silence ensue as he decides on the designated topic of the day. Today the topic will be Hot Water, and people who are in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Well last night I was trying to sleep. A bunch of girls were in my bathroom. They were talking and laughing. My aide was in there too. They were using the hot water. You know, the hot water feels kind of good in the shower but you have to make sure you don't get it too hot. You can get burned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Those guys in prison, they have to go to Joliet prison. Let me tell you, you do not want to go there. It is no time share. They don't like it in lock-up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Have you been in a jail with the prisoners?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Oh no. Not me. I wouldn't like it. They give you way too hot showers. But there are a lot of innocent people in jail. For years, innocent people are stuck in lock-up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: That would be a hard life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Up north, prison cells are underground. It is really bad to live underground. In Alcatraz, it was really bad but some of the prisoners escaped. They didn't want any more hot showers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Remember when we went on the tour at Alcatraz?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Huh? Then they get on a boat and go to South America but they get stuck there. English prisoners also get stuck in South America. They cannot ever get out. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I am having guilt feelings. In one week we will be moving him to a Memory Care Unit where he lives. I know it is the right thing, but he will be giving up his large apartment and familiar way of life. It is going to be stressful for him at first. But he needs supervision at night.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then George gets back from the grocery store. As a surprise, he has stopped off at McDonald's and gotten UB his favorite thing, a plain cheeseburger and fries. Uncle Bill's face lights up and his day is complete. He is in Hamburger Heaven until it is time for us to go. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxHa9rPDmi8/Vnh6t7fKjaI/AAAAAAAABKk/hupWv7o_Cnw/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxHa9rPDmi8/Vnh6t7fKjaI/AAAAAAAABKk/hupWv7o_Cnw/s320/IMG_0697.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Bill In Hamburger Heaven</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As we leave, we say good-bye to his healthcare aide who has just arrived. I give UB a hug and notice that he was so excited about the hamburger that he forgot to go to the bathroom. Now he needs to change his clothes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB looks at his aide. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: You know, they use way too hot water there in the prisons.</span><br />
<br />
<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-79387943306766960142015-12-13T17:28:00.001-05:002015-12-13T17:28:33.028-05:00<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4co4p7jjRQ/VmtKV2ygLHI/AAAAAAAABKU/n6tewaYF5WY/s1600/101_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4co4p7jjRQ/VmtKV2ygLHI/AAAAAAAABKU/n6tewaYF5WY/s320/101_0047.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Uncle Bill in Better Days</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">It is hard to stay caught up with Uncle Bill. He just turned 88 a couple weeks ago but still has a few tricks up his sleeve(s). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UB is very OCD. He has been hiding his mail so I cannot find it. Bills, checks, everything have disappeared for the last two weeks. I think he is trying to take control back of his life. He cannot handle the bills and checks so normally I do it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I got a brilliant idea. I put a shoe box way back on the top of the fridge where he would not be likely to see it and I asked the health care aides to let him see his mail, then to quietly collect it and put it in the shoe box for me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">On Sunday I went to get his mail. The aide said lots of mail had come during the week and she had put it in the box. But nothing was there, not even the shoe box. On a hunch, I went to the closet where the shoe box had been kept and there it was, in its usual place.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Me: Uncle Bill, what did you do with the mail in the box?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UB: Mail? I don't know. Maybe someone took it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Me: Why did you take the shoe box down? (Stupid question, we all know shoe boxes do not belong on the top of the fridge)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UB: I don't know where the mail went. Maybe someone robbed it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As I went about getting his medications together for the week, I found that one needed refilling. I called Walgreen's. The pharmacy tech told me it had already been delivered to the house. It appears that SOMEONE has hidden the medicine. I cannot find it anywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, as I continue spinning my wheels looking for his non-existent mail and the medication that was delivered (meds to help his memory!) I cannot help but wonder if there is not some little joyful part of UB that is relishing seeing me zig-zagging on this unwanted scavenger hunt. My mind is all rabbitty wondering, "Did I look here? and "Could it be in the cabinet under the sink?" UB is not worried. He is talking about his self-chosen Theme of the Day, which today is getting up too early.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UB: I woke up and it was still dark. About 3:00. I walked down to the dining room and there was no one there. The police wanted to know why I was not sleeping. When I came back to my apartment, the mailman followed me into my room and wanted to know why I was up. Then I got a long distance call (he never answers the phone because he cannot hear it and he cannot work the phone.) They were calling for a bar on the beach. Someone sounded kind of drunk. I told them that they were calling too early in the morning. They should have some breakfast and then call back.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dze0Lwwd8D-xoDIWT5SMvVH1SKfx8oK6QzxpTIumykWPnsuHEabX6iM29fzC6KZVNOvYguc_4RMQJPFSq9QVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Of course, none of this happened. Maybe this is the place to be, in the world of Uncle Bill, instead of the real world where bad things happen more often than not. Love my uncle!</span>jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-63400787580867734562015-11-29T15:38:00.000-05:002015-11-29T15:38:58.910-05:00Man Buns
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma2tr7Dr0us/VlteackWYFI/AAAAAAAABJU/wpXJkwq4tYQ/s1600/100_9837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma2tr7Dr0us/VlteackWYFI/AAAAAAAABJU/wpXJkwq4tYQ/s320/100_9837.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>So I am sitting in the back
of my son’s car. My daughter-in-law, Shannon is riding with me and our husbands
have taken on the driving and navigating challenges from the front seat. It
allows Shannon and I to reflect on the world situation, such as it is.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Shannon: You know what a man
bun is, right?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Me: (snorting derisively) Of
course. Who doesn’t? Why?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Shannon: So what do you think
of them?</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eUIskV65VJ0/Vlter1AuwOI/AAAAAAAABJc/AZs-Vi4wX2o/s1600/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eUIskV65VJ0/Vlter1AuwOI/AAAAAAAABJc/AZs-Vi4wX2o/s1600/images-2.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Low "Pony Bun"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDH9nHVYKBU/Vltew06B3II/AAAAAAAABJk/0VKG_4mfrBU/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDH9nHVYKBU/Vltew06B3II/AAAAAAAABJk/0VKG_4mfrBU/s1600/images-1.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Librarian Man Bun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpTfVmboIac/VlteztKtLTI/AAAAAAAABJs/S-VjycykLJ8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpTfVmboIac/VlteztKtLTI/AAAAAAAABJs/S-VjycykLJ8/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">George Bush Man Bun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDAB0laIYbk/Vlte2BsFluI/AAAAAAAABJ0/nt0mXAPzy2A/s1600/images-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDAB0laIYbk/Vlte2BsFluI/AAAAAAAABJ0/nt0mXAPzy2A/s1600/images-4.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Athlete Man Bun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7s1ksosAXA/Vlte4sQMLjI/AAAAAAAABJ8/EmNNtpWQcf0/s1600/images-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7s1ksosAXA/Vlte4sQMLjI/AAAAAAAABJ8/EmNNtpWQcf0/s1600/images-3.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Man and Dog Buns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-VR900DQSM/Vlte8Gmu4iI/AAAAAAAABKE/rdnHKS9x6Y4/s1600/images-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-VR900DQSM/Vlte8Gmu4iI/AAAAAAAABKE/rdnHKS9x6Y4/s1600/images-5.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Top Knot Man Bun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I reflect on the Man Bun
images that have crossed my path since they became "Official" in 2013. I feel I can
adequately give my opinion based on the thoughtful survey I have just completed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Me: Well, it’s like this. If
a guy does not look good without a Man Bun, he is not going to look any better
in a Man Bun. However, a really hot guy could continue to look really hot in a Man Bun.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>This conversation, short as
it was, sparked food for thought about ManBunDom in general. George even got interested. He photographed a man at Publix in a Man Bun. We eyeballed one from the window at Friday’s as we ate lunch. No Man Bun
escaped our notice. (Disclaimer: I do not want George to EVER put a Man Bun on his head.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>My Internet
research has proved there is a whole Man Bun World out there I was totally
unaware of.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>You can buy a ready-made
Man Bun on Amazon for only 24.95. “Get the look without damaging your hair or
spending years growing it out…Get the Man Bun look without the hassle.” It is
described as a attachable hairpiece which comes in a variety of colors, made of
artificial hair. The Man Bun is 3 in (diameter) x 1in (height). They do
recommend pinning the Man Buns with a bobby pin with some of your hair layered
to achieve the natural look.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>And, guess what? There is an
official Man Bun website complete with a definition of the Man Bun and the types
of Man Buns there are. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>The Man Bun is a type of long hairstyle that involves
tying one’s hair into a single bun to be placed upon the crown area of the
head, or the vertex. The Man Bun may also be referred to as the Bro Bun,
Hipster Bun, Mun, Dude Bun.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>There is even a FAQ page with
questions such as “How do I keep women from touching my Man Bun?” and “Can I grow a
beard with my Man Bun?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Leave it to my
daughter-in-law, Shannon, to provide me with a topic that will keep me busy for
hours on end. Thanks, Shannon, I am on my way to do some Man Bun scouting!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-47385464579568392532015-11-27T19:36:00.000-05:002015-11-27T19:36:54.705-05:00
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Being Thankful</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">As usual we went to a
favorite restaurant on the beach to have Thanksgiving dinner. The food was
excellent. We noticed that there were so many elderly people there, that it
seemed like a nursing home Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walkers, wheelchairs and canes clogged up the aisles. Heaven help us if we
should have to evacuate for a storm, the medical equipment alone would have
caused us to trample each other in our quest to escape.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eScy7TeW06w/Vlj1n1yxiCI/AAAAAAAABI8/Ivkb3tTP1kg/s1600/20151126_165018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eScy7TeW06w/Vlj1n1yxiCI/AAAAAAAABI8/Ivkb3tTP1kg/s320/20151126_165018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George is the Camera Dude.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It was a very windy day. We
looked out the window toward the beach. There were a couple of kite things in
the air, bouncing around in the wind. A man in a lawn chair was airlifted for a
few moments, until he crashed back down to the sand. That was interesting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePt5cBKpsOo/Vlj0oyFQXBI/AAAAAAAABIk/OlyvSClzl2g/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePt5cBKpsOo/Vlj0oyFQXBI/AAAAAAAABIk/OlyvSClzl2g/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">What Thanksgiving Day is
complete without getting beat in Scrabble by your oldest son? And having him
play the ukulele for you? Life is complete.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLQ-zzpY-BM/Vlj04PybFKI/AAAAAAAABIs/jYYujWZEfpA/s1600/IMG_5578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLQ-zzpY-BM/Vlj04PybFKI/AAAAAAAABIs/jYYujWZEfpA/s320/IMG_5578.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey watched with interest.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Telephone call from youngest
son and wife and all is well with the world. Thanksgiving is all about the food
and the feelings but most of all about the people you are with.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu_f-KFOHPI/Vlj1TCJSW5I/AAAAAAAABI0/tjJ2wk5-HQA/s1600/IMG_5580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu_f-KFOHPI/Vlj1TCJSW5I/AAAAAAAABI0/tjJ2wk5-HQA/s320/IMG_5580.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey moved in closer. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The next day, we spend time with Jeff at our current favorite place to eat. Tijuana Flats, which was originated by a UCF alumnus (where Jeff went to school.) Jeff lined up his hot sauce, prepared to dig in.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7St4FeB1dY/Vlj2c8j1cqI/AAAAAAAABJE/NULRDsukdrY/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7St4FeB1dY/Vlj2c8j1cqI/AAAAAAAABJE/NULRDsukdrY/s320/IMG_5571.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Loved this time together. Wish Cory and Ashlee had been here also but another time....</span></div>
jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-70405038494264637632015-11-22T15:30:00.001-05:002015-11-22T15:30:50.367-05:00A Visit With Uncle Bill<span style="font-size: large;">A Day With Uncle Bill</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plLx7IG37HU/VlIhIDAgLNI/AAAAAAAABHQ/tnvk0VAJhXk/s1600/UB%2Basleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plLx7IG37HU/VlIhIDAgLNI/AAAAAAAABHQ/tnvk0VAJhXk/s320/UB%2Basleep.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So when we got to Uncle Bill's, he was sound asleep. We used to take him to church on Sundays but he decided he did not want to go any more. I think it was because he likes to sleep late. He does not wake up till 1:00 PM or later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today the aide arrived and got him up. He is always confused when he wakes up and today was no different.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Hey, did you hear what happened? The girl, the aide that was here the other night, got a call from the office. When she got there, a football player, a linebacker, threw her through a window. Broke both her legs."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I knew better than to get all upset. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Did you hear that the roads are all washed out up by Lake Okeechobee? It is flooding and is heading here next.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: I think we are safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: That is what everyone thinks. But it is coming soon and we are going to have to stay put in our homes with our storm windows up. It is going to be really bad. The mayor of Illinois came out and looked at the mess and said it was terribly bad. And he knows his stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: (trying to change subject) Did you know that tomorrow is Cory's birthday?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: No, really? Where does he live?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Texas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Oh, yeah. Well, tell him to stay away from the floodwaters heading their way. The water in Okeechobee is going to fill up the Mississippi and it will travel down to the Gulf and they are going to see more water than they ever have.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Well, it is time for us to go. We will come by and visit you Tuesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">UB: Well be careful and don't go to the Mississippi. Stay inland to be safe. Quite a ways inland.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: We will.</span><br />
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jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-40528065930726027522015-11-17T17:50:00.000-05:002015-11-17T17:50:27.726-05:00Vacationing with GeorgeIt has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog. Now that I am newly retired, I have more time for such things. Hopefully there will be someone to read my posts besides myself.<br />
<br />
Our latest adventure was in going to Cedar Key, Florida. It is about 5-6 hours north of us (south of Gainesville). Unfortunately, using our GPS to get there caused us to add on over an hour to our journey. Evidently there is only one entrance to Cedar Key (it is an island, of course) and the roads that our GPS staunchly recommended took us in a circle around Cedar Key, but never closer. We had to get on the phone with my oldest son who became my human GPS and my hero.<br />
<br />
Picture this scenario. The driver, George, is getting a bit surly. He is annoyed at the GPS, he is worried because we are out in the middle of nowhere, with no civilization in sight and we have less than a quarter tank of gas. There is no one around to ask for directions.<br />
<br />
We pull into a wildlife sanctuary to look for the office. Closed on Fridays. (Guess what day it was.)<br />
I decide to call my son for help. There is no cell reception in the useless wildlife sanctuary. We use a bit more of our valuable gasoline to travel back to the highway. So now we have no phone, no help, almost no gas and not much of a sense of humor for that matter.<br />
<br />
Once we got a hold of Jeff, things started looking up. We were not that far from Cedar Key. And then when we found the only gas station near Cedar Key, we were ready for our weekend adventure.<br />
<br />
Somewhere between the wildlife sanctuary and Cedar Key, the cares started dropping off our shoulders. We traveled on 4 bridges over water and then arrived on Cedar Key, a tiny spot of color and character amidst the tranquil blue of the Gulf of Mexico. We had the first good luck of the day and found a parking place right in front of our hotel. Lunch was first on the agenda. As we sat outside on the deck with seafood platters, we had no cares in the world.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-83Mh36PRsQI/VkuAV4quCXI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Jr-TjSXmK_8/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-83Mh36PRsQI/VkuAV4quCXI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Jr-TjSXmK_8/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
Our second problem was that we had not prepared for cold weather. We could see the sunrise over the water right from our suite. Unfortunately it was freakin cold and we did not have the outerwear for it. Not even long pants, just shorts. I found George outside at sunrise, wrapped in a blanket and my sweatshirt which was way too small for his body, taking pictures of the sunrise. I spared you a picture of George but the sunrise was worth posting.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtkaMaDqmjE/Vkt_-7E3Y3I/AAAAAAAABGI/0KEXMLeK2Kk/s1600/20151113_173358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtkaMaDqmjE/Vkt_-7E3Y3I/AAAAAAAABGI/0KEXMLeK2Kk/s320/20151113_173358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2M6yoFRR7PQ/Vkuto7cm3VI/AAAAAAAABHA/2U_N_3Qp31M/s1600/20151116_065707_LLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2M6yoFRR7PQ/Vkuto7cm3VI/AAAAAAAABHA/2U_N_3Qp31M/s320/20151116_065707_LLS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The rest of our trip was awesome. Cedar Key is unique...unless you fish, boat, or drink, there is not much else to do there. Our favorite thing was to talk to local people, who were interesting, kind and lots of fun. We would definitely go back. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQseYOgMyAU/VkuA4gmKxUI/AAAAAAAABGs/3Oii7kLgHgE/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQseYOgMyAU/VkuA4gmKxUI/AAAAAAAABGs/3Oii7kLgHgE/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right outside our suite at the Harbour Master.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0LRl0PRQhbw/VkuAldPdvqI/AAAAAAAABGc/zGt5adZ0l3M/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0LRl0PRQhbw/VkuAldPdvqI/AAAAAAAABGc/zGt5adZ0l3M/s320/IMG_0664.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met many doggies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-85015724989985420302014-06-16T16:57:00.006-04:002014-06-16T16:57:57.687-04:00Last Cruise Words!<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Go Figure!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vOqCYpruWFE/U59ZtqwWfWI/AAAAAAAABEo/yioAw6BRgnM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vOqCYpruWFE/U59ZtqwWfWI/AAAAAAAABEo/yioAw6BRgnM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Reflections on the people on
a cruise: It always amazes me that there are people in the world who have a
hard time just being happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our
cruise, I only noticed two Grinches. Out of about 6,000 people, including crew
and passengers, I figure that is a pretty good percentage. About 97% or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Unfortunately, I ran across
the path of these two women and that gave me some pause for thinking. It is
quite a shock to be dunked into the myriad of deliriously happy and relaxed
passengers who are just enjoying life and then run across one of these people.
Let’s just say that cruising did not help them relax any. So they took it out
on those around them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The Pissed Pee-er<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The first lady was one I
followed to the restroom near the theater. She first became annoyed because the
wheelchair restroom, which she did not require, was locked because there was
someone in there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Jesus!” she muttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I kindly pointed to the
Ladies Room across the hall. She glared at me and headed that way. I think she
wanted to continue to be inconvenienced and my helpfulness did not allow that.
I noted the restroom and held the door for her. She refused it and got annoyed
at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“I’m</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> holding
the door for you!” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">OK then. Once inside, wow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This lady did not like the
beautiful bathroom. She peed without any fuss, thank you, and started in again
when she got to the fancy water spigots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Jesus!” she exclaimed as she
managed the water. Then we came to the paper towels. Holy moly. She did not
have the magic touch to have the paper towels come out of the machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Jesus Christ!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">By the time she exited the
bathroom, I was praying for her family on the cruise. Also praying I did not
run into her again. Well, I did not. But at the end of the trip, the very end,
as we were waiting to debark, Number Two reared her ugly head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcsUykT8NV0/U59ZwyM5PJI/AAAAAAAABE0/L0U0aSXqVcU/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcsUykT8NV0/U59ZwyM5PJI/AAAAAAAABE0/L0U0aSXqVcU/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Thankless Person #2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">She was using a walker, which
is not an excuse for bad behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
she was an angry person and took it out on the staff members who were trying
very hard to meet her (many) needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course the staff members are all international, which is one of the charming
things about cruising. She barked an order at one of the stewards. He did not
understand her order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Can’t you speak English?”
she rudely asked. That was it for me. Part of me wanted to run over and give
her what-for but I felt it would embarrass the cruise staffers who had been so
professional. So after she left, I just went over and commiserated with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: Hard to please someone
who hasn’t had any for 30 years, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It was good to see them
smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-7014563536666232782014-06-15T10:58:00.001-04:002014-06-15T10:58:15.922-04:00
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Cruise Neophytes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">If we had taken our kids with
us on the cruise, they probably would have been embarrassed at our lack of
class. We took turns being bumbling fools. Sometimes we bumbled at the same
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jeanne’s Turn</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">:
As we walk into the ship for the first time, a staff member came forward with a
squirt bottle and squirted the back of my right hand. I was surprised, was not
expecting that. She smiled so I guessed it was a good thing and no one else
seemed offended. What could it mean? A wet welcome to the ocean? Or would it dry
and glow in the dark, our entrance and exit means to the amazing bars?
Inquiring minds wanted to know so I went to another staff member who also
squirted me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: What is this stuff? (I held
my hand up to my nose to sniff.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Staff member: It’s hand
sanitizer. Washee, Washee! Happy, Happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: Oh, cool. I get it. Glad
to hear they are fighting the germ war! I moseyed back to George, attempting to
maintain my dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The squirters were everywhere
all over the boat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jeanne Bumbles again: </span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I had (note past tense here) a little casino fund that
I saved for the trip. I was ready to use it. I sat down at the slot machine. It
would not take my card or my money. I tried 3 more slot machines. Nothing
worked. Frustration! I talked to one of the crew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Crew Member: None of the
machines are on. We are not out of port yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I looked around. How did I
miss the fact that there was no one else but me in the casino? Bumbling fool
indeed. I moseyed back to George trying to maintain my dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George was a Bumbling Fool: </span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that
George was trying to clip something on to his belt. I was noticing this because
I was waiting for him so we could go to dinner and I was HUNGRY! Finally I asked…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: What are you doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George: Clipping on my
flashlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I looked and yes, indeedy, he
was clipping on the little purple mini-flashlight I gave him a couple of years
ago. I did not expect it to come on the cruise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: Why do you need a
flashlight?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George stared at me for a
brief time. I think he was trying to come up with a reason why he was wearing a
flashlight on a cruise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George: In case the boat
loses power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: Oh…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Luckily, it did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Later that night I noticed
something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: George, you have a light
flashing in your pants. Is that your flashlight or are you glad to see me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George: Well, that is
embarrassing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jeanne:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> It
certainly gives a new meaning to “Hot Pants!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jeanne Gets Yet Another Turn:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We go to watch an awesome
show, titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Burn The Floor</i> which is
a very fast paced Latin dance show. We were in awe of the dancing quality and
the fact that the girls wore these unbelievable high heels and don’t fall down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">On the way out, my own two
graceful legs got tangled up in my purse strap, and my cane and it took me 5
minutes to be able to move again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George and Jeanne Perform as Bumbling Fools Together:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">On one of the island tours,
George and I were arguing about a defunct sugar mill that we saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: It is the same one we saw
back there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George: No, it isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: Let’s ask the driver.
Then you’ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: John, is this the same
defunct sugar mill we saw back there? (We had to explain defunct, which I think
he suspected might be a bad word.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">John: Oh, no. This is a
different sugar mill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Me: (I was not pleased with
his answer.) Curses! John, I will give you 5 bucks if you will say it is the
same one. (all passengers are enjoying this conversation)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George: I’ll give you 10.
(laughter from the peanut gallery)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">John: No, that would be
dishonest and there is no good to be had by achieving something through
dishonesty. (He made me feel like a guilty politician for Pete’s sake. I
decided to drop the subject!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Lest you think that I ran out
of bumbling fool stories, let me say that my writing space gave out before my
stories!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eMfE96VyZwI/U520TCXhgKI/AAAAAAAABEY/CsQPjppejT4/s1600/securedownload-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eMfE96VyZwI/U520TCXhgKI/AAAAAAAABEY/CsQPjppejT4/s1600/securedownload-7.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumbling Fool #1 and #2<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-83493151454814227612014-06-14T14:56:00.003-04:002014-06-14T14:56:33.839-04:00
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Cruise 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Norwegian Getaway Ship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgbO8dMuo-w/U5yaiM-pSrI/AAAAAAAABEA/Lf-JEt9eq60/s1600/norwegian-getaway-cruise-ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgbO8dMuo-w/U5yaiM-pSrI/AAAAAAAABEA/Lf-JEt9eq60/s1600/norwegian-getaway-cruise-ship.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Safety First<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Before you can have any fun
on a cruise, you have to do a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety
Drill.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">George wanted to get ready
for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill.</b> He dove under
the bed to drag out the lifejackets. He made me put my arms up in the air so he
could fit it on me properly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Then he continued to read the
directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Jeanne,” he said. “It says
here that we have to dress in warm clothes and bring all our medications.” I am
picturing us layered in our tropical clothing, laden with our meds. I made an
executive decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“We are not doing that,
George. I am sure they mean in the case of a real emergency.” He was
disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">He was also a bit
disappointed when the steward told us that we did not have to put our life
jackets on for the drill. He wanted us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel
</i>the peril.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We got to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill</b> area, which was
coincidentally a bar. The steward told us that we must scan our guest cards
carefully because EVERYONE has to participate in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill</b>. Those whose cards are not scanned have to come to a
Make-Up <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill</b> the next day or
the next or the next. George and I looked at the slate of events listed for
each day and guffawed at the fact that there were still <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make-Up Safety Drills</b> the last day of the cruise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Hey, George!” “I laughed. “Ha
ha ha! There must be some losers out there who still haven’t done their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill</b>.” It did my heart good to
know that we did ours the first day and those slugs who never do anything on
time might be having to do a Safety Drill while we were dancing in a conga
line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">So back to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill.</b> Rules for the drill were
simple: No Food, no drinks, no electronics. They want you to pay attention to
them, not your drink, not your wiener, not your cell phone. I thought it was a
good plan. Then I saw why we teachers have so much trouble getting kids to
follow rules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">A nice looking family sat
nearby. Mom, Dad and 2 boys. The boys were both drinking sodas and eating chips
out of bags. Mom was on her cell phone. A staff member came by and asked them to
put their food, drink and cell phone away. They complied until she turned
around. Then they all went back to what they were doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Hey, Mom!” I wanted to say.
“Thanks for the great role modeling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Omar, the Almost-Comedian, was
the steward who presented the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety
Drill</b> over the very loud microphone. He could be very annoying if you were
not on vacation and were letting nothing bother you. He would remind us of the
magical sound when the cruise line wanted to get your attention!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Ding! Dong!” would go the
very loud chimes over the P.A. You were instantly to become quiet and listen
for important news. During the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety
Drill</b>, he kept trying to keep over 1000 people in our area quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Omar: I have a feeling the
magical sound is coming again soon. Listen for the magical sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jeanne: (to George) I am
going to give him a magical finger gesture if he does not get moving on this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety Drill</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Omar: Listen and be quiet.
The magical sound is coming on again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Ding! Dong!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">After 45 minutes of waiting
for everyone to arrive and be quiet, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety
Drill</b> lasted about 3 minutes. I blinked and almost missed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CwD4hhveck/U5yanDP_uuI/AAAAAAAABEM/lj7FuraWe0A/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CwD4hhveck/U5yanDP_uuI/AAAAAAAABEM/lj7FuraWe0A/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-72011738476876486732014-05-16T19:21:00.000-04:002014-05-16T19:21:08.647-04:00Travelin' Fools
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Travelin’ Fools<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">George
and I are basic travel virgins. Local trips, a cruise, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a few flights. That’s it! Our positive travel
experiences ended a couple years ago when we flew up to Illinois to visit
family and attend my high school reunion. We entered Travel Hell on _________
Airlines. (I don’t like to be a name-dropper but I will tell you that it rhymes
with “Hear it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Once
“Hear It!” dropped us off at O’Hare airport, they wanted nothing more to do
with us. Ever! On the day of our return flight, they did not come back to get
us. They abandoned a planeload of passengers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>at the airport for 12 hours, leaving us there to grouse and complain and
rile up other passengers. The plane had a mechanical failure. No one else came
to get us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were all the planes infected
with mechanical failure? The tune“que sera, sera!” played out in my mind
throughout the day. By the time we got home, despite our lovely parting gifts
of worthless vouchers for a future free flight on “Hear It!” Airlines, we knew
we were not going to fly on them again. We had learned something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But
we had another chance to be real travelers. This time it was for a family
event, the graduation of my daughter-in-law, Ashlee, who graduated (with
honors, I might add) from the University Of Louisville this past weekend. I
scheduled the flights, being careful not to schedule any “Hear It!” flights. I
was going with my old standby, “Smelta” Airlines. Unfortunately Louisville is
not exactly the hub of the universe so there were no direct flights. OK, we
were flexible. Alas, the morning of the flight I awoke with acute vertigo, a
chronic condition that makes me walk somewhat like a drunken sailor. George now
had 2 rolly suitcases, 1 heavy computer bag, and 3 bags to carry on, plus a
drunken wife sailor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smile faded
from his face pretty early on. The skycap took one look at me as he checked in
our baggage and a wheelchair magically appeared. They whisked me away, not so
good for the vertigo but rather like a roller coaster ride. George, unfortunately,
was loping along behind, carrying whatever they could not store on my lap. So we
were feeling pretty positive about how things were going. “Smelta” was taking
good care of us so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
first flight left FLL at 7:35 AM to go to Atlanta. At Atlanta we would have 1
hour, and on to Louisville. We planned to arrive at Louisville in time to get
our rental car and take Cory and Ashlee out to lunch. We were excited. But it
was not to be. North of Orlando, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
pilot told us that the cabin air pressure was not right and we had to go back
to Orlando. He was hopeful that they could make an adjustment and once again be
on our way. But it was not to be. All passengers were deplaned and there was a
frantic sea of defunct travelers all attacking the red-jacketed people who were
unfortunate enough to be there at the moment we arrived in Orlando. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh,
and did I mention that this was Mother’s Day weekend? And the weekend of a
million college graduations? Seems that you might want to avoid traveling on
that weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Announcement:
“For those of you who are worried about catching a connecting flight, there is
another flight for Atlanta leaving in 45 minutes. There are 100 seats
available.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a stampede of people much more agile
than us, a stampede the size of the Cabbage Patch Doll Run one Christmas. The
seats were taken by extremely fast people before we could blink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The cabin
pressure problems made our previous plane inoperable and it never did resume
flight that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
spent most of the day in Orlando. We finally got out to Atlanta and then
Louisville at 10 pm. Such bad luck, you say. Wouldn’t you think we would be due
for some better luck on the way home? We were more philosophical now. “Smelta”
had given us 100.00 worth in flight credit so we felt loved and valued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On
Monday, our day to go home, we arrived at about 7:30 am at the Louisville
airport. Once again I am met with a wheelchair, since I still have dizzy
spells. We happily get on our “Smelta” plane and start to taxi. Then…the
announcement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Uh,
we are going to go back to the terminal. There seems to be a hydraulic leak.
Now it could be that the mechanic can just adjust it and we will be good to go
(Where had I heard that before?) but we need to check it out. Stay seated while
we call the mechanic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Then…”The
mechanic will not be here for about 30-45 minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Then…
“I am going to ask you to deplane since it would not be good for you to smell
hydraulic fluid.” We are grateful for his concern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This
time George sprang into action and got us on a later flight just in case.
Unfortunately it was not until 6:30 pm. We had the rest of the day to chill.
Finally we were flown to Atlanta. Our flight disembarked on one continent and
our connecting flight was on another. Atlanta airport is a crazy place. It was
a freakin’ city for Pete’s sake. They stuck me in a wheelchair again, rolled me
at warp speed to a train car like at Disney and shoved me inside while the car
moved at super speed. I hope not to have to go anywhere else in that metropolis
airport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
get to our gate and have 2 more delays. One because the plane is late and one
because the stewardesses have not arrived. The plane is supposed to leave at
10:05 but the stewardess team is on a flight from Pittsburgh. They have to
deplane the passengers at 10:00, speed to our airplane and get us all on the
plane, still smiling. I organized a team of volunteers ready to act as
stewardesses if it would help. One young man, Jacob, offered to perform the safety
lesson and I was positive I could pass out pretzels if my vertigo would calm
down a bit. We could wing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
stewardesses finally arrived, negating the need for our help. We were ready to
board. Everyone seemed quite calm except Important Guy. You know him. The one
who is most inconvenienced by all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can easily tell who’s the most important one. 1. They walk in
important strides. 2. They have a scowly look on their face. 3. They have a
phone piece permanently attached to their ear. 4. They show great impatience
with people who do not understand how terribly urgent their business is. 5.
They are rude to the people trying to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(He told them they were just a bunch of “red jackets.”) Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So
we saw the best of human nature and the worst of human nature. All I can say is
I’m glad to be home. We arrived home at 1 PM, very glad to not have any more
immediate flights in our future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2Co13ZwXKE/U3aZogykHcI/AAAAAAAABDc/tuaeEmW9X8o/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2Co13ZwXKE/U3aZogykHcI/AAAAAAAABDc/tuaeEmW9X8o/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our collection of boarding passes, just from this trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErV1ckBApko/U3acmI5Et-I/AAAAAAAABDo/k8I9KdRMGLA/s1600/100_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErV1ckBApko/U3acmI5Et-I/AAAAAAAABDo/k8I9KdRMGLA/s1600/100_2152.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never travel without your rubber chicken.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-58399133550180783362013-08-11T20:14:00.004-04:002013-08-11T20:14:49.823-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> OMG you are going to say. A post from Jeanne Kraus! Where has she been? Well, I am back and hopefully will continue to be. What dragged me out again? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Resignation To The Way Things Are.</span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> I was at a party the other day and one of the guests
remarked that it was nice and noteworthy that there was no one busy on their
cell phone, no one texting, not one had even taken their phone out during the
day. And we were talking with each other. Of course this was a get-together for baby boomer aged adults, and no one under 45 was invited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWykIQ4Yd74/UggmXJU_oKI/AAAAAAAABCQ/KH5SGZhQ6Ho/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWykIQ4Yd74/UggmXJU_oKI/AAAAAAAABCQ/KH5SGZhQ6Ho/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> I reflected on that comment. It was true. We all focused
on each other, and had no use for the cell phones that often take over today's get-togethers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> For the first time though, I sort of understand it. I
agree that I liked it better when we all talked, played games, interacted, but
the world has changed. And we are sounding a bit like our parents, “What’s the
matter with you listening to that long hair beatle music and watching that whipper-snapper twist his hips?” The truth is, we don’t like the current social groups because
we are not used to them, we did not grow up with them, and our way is always the
best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> So I am trying to understand the fascination with the
games online, and the tweeting and the texting and the emailing.
And I admit there is something magical about texting your son and having him
come on in about a minute and less and answer your comment. So its not all bad,
just different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> But here’s my top ten of irritations of the cell phone
age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> People talking on cell phones in restaurants while their family sits quietly by, waiting
for them to finish. Nearby tables are also waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who HAVE
to answer their call, even if they are in line to pay for their groceries and
do the whole process juggling groceries, car keys, credit card and phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who talk
on speaker phones in public so you can REALLY
hear everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People in
meetings who always have have to take phone calls during the
meeting. Their ring tones are loud renditions of marching sounds that will forever play out in my brain as earworms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who
totally ignore signs in Dr. offices, asking for all cell phones to be turned
off.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wy_ky39VDc/UggmhwoxsXI/AAAAAAAABCY/baQTSm6GWXU/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wy_ky39VDc/UggmhwoxsXI/AAAAAAAABCY/baQTSm6GWXU/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who are on
the cellphone as they are driving. (cars, bikes, what-not)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siFntEm9Mqk/UggmqWbiXnI/AAAAAAAABCg/d-ZFquGaFDk/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-siFntEm9Mqk/UggmqWbiXnI/AAAAAAAABCg/d-ZFquGaFDk/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who are on
the cellphone as they have "quality" time with their child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who wear
earpieces on their ears permanently because their calls are extremely
important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">People who are
texting while you are having a conversation with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> Trying to pretend</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> that
you do not hear the intimate conversation going on with the stranger next to
you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> So don't misunderstand. I have a cell phone and I know how to use it. Well, sort of. Most of it is a mystery. You won't see me carry it everywhere with me because there is rarely anything of that importance that cannot wait. The best things about cell phones?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> You don't have to get out of the car to find a phone booth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> You don't have a party line.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> There is no cord attached to them!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> And they come in more than just basic black. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9m46AMy3q4/Uggn6ds-8CI/AAAAAAAABCw/VJ5f_XsiQzY/s1600/Unknown-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9m46AMy3q4/Uggn6ds-8CI/AAAAAAAABCw/VJ5f_XsiQzY/s1600/Unknown-2.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-40787923626728159242013-01-12T17:12:00.003-05:002013-01-12T17:14:26.710-05:00Perspective!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Perspective</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8t08odMSotE/UPHc1u9WC2I/AAAAAAAAA9s/pMdaqMsQYt0/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8t08odMSotE/UPHc1u9WC2I/AAAAAAAAA9s/pMdaqMsQYt0/s1600/images-3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> What happens as we get older? To our perspective, I mean. It appears that judgement is clouded at certain times in your life. I remember in middle school wearing a hot pink A-line skirt (just below the knee). I paired it with a beige blouse with the ever-so-popular roll-up sleeves of the 60s. I wore it over and over, convinced that it was really cool. As was my Ben Casey blouse. Now I realize that someone should have taken it and burned it when I wasn't looking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwOZaK7_ydM/UPHfE7e5-GI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/jsxkExHy4LI/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwOZaK7_ydM/UPHfE7e5-GI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/jsxkExHy4LI/s1600/images-4.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVnJ7udrEaM/UPHfE24204I/AAAAAAAAA-c/F6AJ8j-KUOk/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVnJ7udrEaM/UPHfE24204I/AAAAAAAAA-c/F6AJ8j-KUOk/s1600/images-5.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> As a young lady, the only hair color that I liked was to put auburn highlights in my dark brown hair. Never considered anything else. When the current palette of colors came out, I thought they were way out there. Kids sported them and then I started to see adults adding on other colors to their hair. Now, I find myself thinking that those little purple or blue streaks are kind of pretty. Not that it would work for me, I am sticking to basic gray.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> When braces came out in coordinating colors, I was taken aback. Braces should be functional, not a fashion statement. Now I find myself prodding children, "And what color are your braces?"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1xu6S4rjOc/UPHc00taSZI/AAAAAAAAA9o/_s4Ep08ZiSE/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1xu6S4rjOc/UPHc00taSZI/AAAAAAAAA9o/_s4Ep08ZiSE/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> But the most evident of my attitude change was toward tattoos. I have always been a tattoo avoider. I always believed that if your kids grew up without a variety of rings piercing various parts of their bodies, and without tattoos, that maybe they have safely made it to adulthood. When my youngest got a tattoo on his arm, it changed my </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">perspective. Why? It was a really meaningful thing to him and it was beautiful, like artwork. Not that I really want him to go out and tat the rest of his body, but I can handle this one. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> When I think of all the fads I lived through, it seems that what is going on today is just more of the same. Beehives, flips and pageboys, hot pants, bell bottoms, mullets and mohawks( eesh!) all played their parts in my younger days. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I just wish....the low sagging pants would go away. I'm over seeing the boxer shorts of every teen in town. Pull em up guys. Save our eyesight.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't want to be a buttinsky but why?</td></tr>
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jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-8686443884672003922012-12-26T23:52:00.001-05:002012-12-26T23:59:22.527-05:00Pee to Be You and Me<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The holidays are over and we are trying to get back to normal. After my Daughter in Law Number #1 noted that our place looks like an episode on <b>Hoarders</b>, we have continued our efforts to empty the extra crap we have from trying to meld two houses into one. It is a painstaking job. Especially in getting George to throw stuff out or sell it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Well, what is this big black thing under the bed?" I ask.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Oh that is my guitar."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I stare at him unblinkingly. "Guitar? You have a guitar? I have known you for 15 years and I never knew you had a guitar? Do you think maybe we could find a new home for it?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No answer, but the guitar is tucked more firmly under the bed where I cannot see it without getting into one of those pretzel formations with my body.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, Jeff, my son, and I believe in improving our minds when we are together. Our catalyst this year was that his wife ordered asparagus for dinner when we went out. Of course this started the "Why does asparagus make your pee smell funny?" We found out a lot of interesting facts that you will want to know.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Post-asparagus odor has been observed for centuries. French novelist Marcel Proust noted that asparagus transformed his chamber-pot into a perfume flask.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. A British Men's Club also posted a sign that asked members to restrain themselves during the asparagus season and not relieve themselves in the hat stand. Or hats.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. In 1891 a scientist convinced 4 men to eat 3.5 pounds of asparagus each and measured the smell, determining that there was a chemical that caused the distinct odor.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. According to WebMD, the issue is not whether your body generates the smell but if you have the special gene that allows you to smell it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Approximately 22% of people have the ability to smell their own asparagus fumes. As stated in nbcnews.com, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in a great work of modern literature, "Love in the Time of Cholera", wrote..."Even when it was not the season for asparagus, it had to be found regardless of cost so that he could take pleasure in the vapors of his own fragrant urine."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hmm. I wish to thank my daughter-in-law, Shannon, for inspiring me on this journey of pee discovery. I did not ask her if she was a member of the 22% club when she came back from the restroom. But I suspect she may be.</span>jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-13991629090464924972012-12-25T09:08:00.001-05:002012-12-25T09:08:48.424-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love being with my family at Christmas. We truly have time to talk. The last 2 days I have been having my long-missed philosophical discussions with my oldest son, Jeff, who is now 35 years old. He has definite opinions on everything, most of them contrary to mine.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A half hour discussion emerged because I had confessed to him that I have indeed lost our family rubber chicken, which we pass to each other stealthily, each trying not to be the one to end up with R.C. at the end of the visit. Jeff did not believe me that I had misplaced R.C. and thinks it is a red herring to make him feel confident that he will not need to worry about returning to Orlando with a rubber chicken hidden in his underwear.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Substitute Less Desirable Rubber Chicken</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Even when I went out and bought a substitute rubber chicken, a less desirable version, at Party City, yesterday he staunchly refused to believe that the other rubber chicken will somehow find its way aboard his vehicle after Christmas.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But that is not all we talked about. When I mentioned that the rubber chicken's feet looked backward, he told me that is what chicken feet look like. We surfed the net for a good 30 minutes looking at real chicken feet and rubber chicken feet. What do you think?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Missing Rubber Chicken (last photo)</span></div>
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jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-87679300048086416002012-12-08T19:57:00.004-05:002012-12-08T19:57:49.843-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Last Garage Sale</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today George and I reached a milestone in our marriage. It was the day of our last garage sale...ever. As we trudged around in the afternoon sun, sweating and toiling<span style="font-size: large;"> we becam<span style="font-size: large;">e aware that our <span style="font-size: large;">wages for <span style="font-size: large;">said garage sale netted us about 5.00 per hour. Plus I had to miss a tutoring session because of utter exhaustion<span style="font-size: large;">, which wou<span style="font-size: large;">ld have <span style="font-size: large;">netted me much more than the garage sale time I p<span style="font-size: large;">ut in. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the really sad thing is that we appear to have more crap than when we started. W<span style="font-size: large;">e</span> no longer have any pathway in our garage to walk th<span style="font-size: large;">rough. So we are starting ou<span style="font-size: large;">r process of recycling, giving away, advertising and leaving it on the curb in case someone will come by and take it from our <span style="font-size: large;">bulk pick-up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">But here is the good part. The best part of t<span style="font-size: large;">oday was the people we met. Neigh<span style="font-size: large;">bo<span style="font-size: large;">rs in our community that I now consider as friends. People from the Free<span style="font-size: large;">C</span>ycle Network online that were just names to me before. <span style="font-size: large;">And some surprising behavior. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">When George and I have a garage sale, we truly want to get rid<span style="font-size: large;"> of the st<span style="font-size: large;">uff. We don't want to haggle, we want it out of there, causing us to put some pretty low prices on stuff, even a <span style="font-size: large;">free section for our fellow FreeCyclers. That was difficult for people. <span style="font-size: large;">I would say about 5-7 people refu<span style="font-size: large;">sed our low prices and insisted on giving us more. We were giving away a little old table that was scarred and <span style="font-size: large;">of no use to us<span style="font-size: large;">. Shopper: How much is this table? George: It is one of our free ite<span style="font-size: large;">ms. Feel free to take it. Shopper: No, really. How much? George: Pl<span style="font-size: large;">ease take it. You are doing us a favor. Shopper: I<span style="font-size: large;"> am not doing that. Here's 5.00 for the table. And this happened several more times. It was way cool that people wanted to be fair.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we still don't want any more <span style="font-size: large;">garage sales!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-11224777105967059642012-11-05T18:21:00.002-05:002012-11-05T18:21:23.809-05:00Deception<span style="font-size: large;"> Now that we have my mother-in-law (MIL) safe and sound we find that we are having to resort to deception more than is comfortable. It is almost as though the crafty lady is finding ways to test o<span style="font-size: large;">ur loyalty. Examples of our conversations will show <span style="font-size: large;">you what I am talking about.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> MIL: "You know those white slippers I have with the leather soles? Bring them next time."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I assume a look of desperation that I share with George. We just threw these slippers out. They were in disgusting shape and we wanted to get rid of them before they walked out on their own. My response:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Me: "Oh, I am so sorry. I had to throw them out. T<span style="font-size: large;">he cat peed on them and they were no good. Your cat."</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> T<span style="font-size: large;">hen there was... "I will be coming home for Christmas. I have been w<span style="font-size: large;">orkin<span style="font-size: large;">g hard to eat well and gain weight. I will be fine to come home. I can stay at the house and we will have Christmas dinner together."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Of course we were planning to come and pick her up for Christmas dinner but we are also planning to bring her back <span style="font-size: large;">to her new home that evening. After all, we have had to totally redo her bedroom, replacing the carpet with tile and we boxed up her things as best we could. I am sure she thinks it still ha<span style="font-size: large;">s the hospital bed and the potty in the corner.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When we go visit we are treated to a litany of negative comments, most of which are untrue. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Her ro<span style="font-size: large;">ommate has a man come in and sleep with her in her bed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> One of the residents sleeps with a different man each night.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bstXeI_wBE/UJhJTnQsH3I/AAAAAAAAA7I/Q1uQYOPMHk4/s1600/1255353059s8p12t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bstXeI_wBE/UJhJTnQsH3I/AAAAAAAAA7I/Q1uQYOPMHk4/s200/1255353059s8p12t.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The<span style="font-size: large;"> nurses are too busy. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We don't visit enough. Some families come every hou<span style="font-size: large;">r.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> T<span style="font-size: large;">he nurses should do everything for free. It would be right.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> All of <span style="font-size: large;">the pa<span style="font-size: large;">tients speak Latvian (her native language.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Last time I w<span style="font-size: large;">as there, I told her that if we were going to <span style="font-size: large;">come and visit, that she <span style="font-size: large;">needed to find some positive things to say. This is what she came up with:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Someone did her hair and nails for her (for free!) Lol.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> She is eating well. She gets to the bathroom hers<span style="font-size: large;">elf without needing help.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Everything is clean there.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAPcobzIvUQ/UJhJUDQIcfI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/CEtFdxV8qc4/s1600/1295900949z2MBa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAPcobzIvUQ/UJhJUDQIcfI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/CEtFdxV8qc4/s200/1295900949z2MBa3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Things are looking up! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></span></span> </span></span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917218025828600067.post-27814088202165259942012-10-26T19:43:00.004-04:002012-10-26T19:43:42.314-04:00A New Me!<span style="font-size: large;"> For the 5-6 of you who were avidly following my blog, you may have had to hypothesize what happened to me since my last entry? As you may/may not recall, I had a nas<span style="font-size: large;">ty fall on May 15th, resulting in a <span style="font-size: large;">very bruised face, sore body and badly broken femur. 4 months in an immobilizer and I was ready to climb the walls. At the same ti<span style="font-size: large;">me, my mother-in-law (hereafter referred to as MIL) developed a painful case of shingles. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Ge<span style="font-size: large;">orge, my husband, he<span style="font-size: large;">roically <span style="font-size: large;">tended to both of us, a<span style="font-size: large;">ided by a caregiver who came almost every day for a while. I moved into her house to make things easier for him. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6CJsyah5Pc/UIsej3MB0kI/AAAAAAAAA6I/6vRyJ49QigA/s1600/Everybody-Raymond-63010-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6CJsyah5Pc/UIsej3MB0kI/AAAAAAAAA6I/6vRyJ49QigA/s200/Everybody-Raymond-63010-05.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It did not help. He developed a bad case of pneumonia which required 2 hospitalizations and surgery. O<span style="font-size: large;">nce he was h<span style="font-size: large;">ospitalized, <span style="font-size: large;">my 90 year<span style="font-size: large;"> old </span>MIL started acting up <span style="font-size: large;">for attention. (Picture the mom on Everyone Loves Raymond). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">A<span style="font-size: large;">t one point I h<span style="font-size: large;">ad her in one hospital and George in another. The difference was th<span style="font-size: large;">at there was nothing wrong with her. Unfortunately, I was still walking with a cane, walker, whatever. On one of my trips to visit George I fe<span style="font-size: large;">ll again in the hospital driveway, be<span style="font-size: large;">cause of the tropical storm we had attracted to South F<span style="font-size: large;">l</span>orida. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> By this time the MIL had moved in with us and was creating all kinds of difficulties for <span style="font-size: large;">me. She could not be left alone so that limited my time away to when the care giver was there. Several times she ran out of the house, yelling for help and that she was being kept in a dungeon. She even called the police.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We put alarms on the doors. We lasted for about 3-4 months and then selected a<span style="font-size: large;">n assisted living facility for her.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmCtK5z52iM/UIse2nFUxEI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sLE2NeGuor4/s1600/1311069101tmuckq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmCtK5z52iM/UIse2nFUxEI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sLE2NeGuor4/s1600/1311069101tmuckq.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsAjxXfMF2I/UIse5uc9cxI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/eMVb0IRTez0/s1600/free_2261016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsAjxXfMF2I/UIse5uc9cxI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/eMVb0IRTez0/s200/free_2261016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We are now bac<span style="font-size: large;">k to the <span style="font-size: large;">normal everyday worries of payi<span style="font-size: large;">ng for <span style="font-size: large;">everything. We think she will engineer an escape eventually from the nursing home, but they will handle it. Of course, we are caring for her cat, a bla<span style="font-size: large;">c<span style="font-size: large;">k cat who is not adjusting well. We have 2 cats of our own and of course, our wiener dog. Her cat has developed some hair thin<span style="font-size: large;">ning probably due to stre<span style="font-size: large;">ss. He also is very offended that my cats find his litter box to be the <i>T<span style="font-size: large;">oilet<span style="font-size: large;">te Extra<span style="font-size: large;">ordina<span style="font-size: large;">ire!</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span> Everyone wants to <span style="font-size: large;">use it, so he poops right in front of it on the tile floor. There is a bit of hissing and growling going on, reminiscent of MIL herself. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OUzIo2r5Gn0/UIsfQkQvvgI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Ef8_pLGtGV8/s1600/jettycoverRGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OUzIo2r5Gn0/UIsfQkQvvgI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Ef8_pLGtGV8/s1600/jettycoverRGB.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>In the meantime, my third children's book, <i>Get Ready for Jetty!</i> came out in September. It is a journal style book about a young girl with ADD and her struggles <span style="font-size: large;">to be accepted and feel good about herself. I think I need to write a book about my struggles over this las<span style="font-size: large;">t year. Both George and I are doing much better now. I am very careful walking and ta<span style="font-size: large;">ke no chances, hoping no more falls.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />jkraus8464http://www.blogger.com/profile/15138306757339514666noreply@blogger.com5