Archive for March 17, 2015

Happy St. Pat’s Day, Even if You’re a Snake

March 17, 2015 Comments Off on Happy St. Pat’s Day, Even if You’re a Snake

My Irish heritage causes me to think, this time of year, about St. Patrick.  I know that he didn’t chase the snakes out of Ireland.  He couldn’t  as there were no snakes to chase out of this land that was underwater fifteen thousand years ago and then had glacial conditions.  Even hearty snakes that might have been able to swim the frigid ocean waters would, literally, freeze their tails.  But it’s a charming legend, based largely on his converting so many people to Christianity from religions that revered snakes.

Oh well.  At least I know that leprechauns exist.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patty's Day Kick

 

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Celebrate Starting Monday…or Earlier

March 14, 2015 Comments Off on Celebrate Starting Monday…or Earlier

Monday begins a week of national observance that is extremely important, notably to Americans living in the West.  March 16-22, 2015, is National Fix-a-Leak Week.  Each leaked-away drop of water is precious, especially to those of us living in a drought.  (In our area, we have only one year of water left in storage, and our groundwater is quickly disappearing.)  Even if you live in areas that saw too much wetness this winter it’s important: when you pay your water bills and taxes, and if our drought suddenly decides to move in your direction.

To learn the facts and figures  of losing water through leaks, how to detect and fix leaks, and related information, click on http://www.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/fix_a_leak.html.

Then become part of Fix-a-Leak week starting Monday.  Or, hey, it’s a weekend.  Why not start today?

 

 

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Another Side to the V.A.

March 13, 2015 Comments Off on Another Side to the V.A.

You’ve been hearing horror stories about how veterans have been treated by the V.A.  Let me describe our (my husband, who’s the vet, and me) experience yesterday at our local V.A. clinic.  It’s typical of the horrible treatment he has received there.

After he did his 3:00 check-in, we began our wait.  By 3:05 someone was coming around to see how long everyone had been waiting, to push things along if necessary.  A few minutes later we were in the exam room, talking to the nurse, who took his info. and vitals while we chatted amiably.  A few minutes after that the doctor arrived.

He clearly explained a couple of concerning blood test results, took my husband for a walk to determine oxygen levels, then sat him down in the room for more of a physical and a discussion that helped us understand what’s going on inside my husband’s lungs.  He ordered an antibiotic to have on hand so we wouldn’t have to wait for an Rx to be filled at first sign of an infection, which can be deadly to my husband.  We talked about my husband’s weight loss and why it’s important to get it back up and keep it up, then the doctor excused himself to consult with the dietitian.  The doctor acted like we were the only people in the world he needed or wanted to work with at that time, staying with us for about an hour.

Then the dietitian–the doc had asked her to see us now rather sometime in the future–came into the room and advised us and arranged for food supplements. She, too, seemed to be in no hurry.  Finally, at 4:45 we were headed home.

Throughout, both of us were treated with respect, concern, some levity to soften the situation, and warmth.  This has been the case for the five years we’ve gone to this V.A. clinic.

I realize that others haven’t been as fortunate as us with treatment through the V.A.  I just wanted you to know that humanity thrives at least at the San Jose V.A. clinic.

 

 

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Mandela on Overcoming Poverty

March 12, 2015 Comments Off on Mandela on Overcoming Poverty

 Today’s Thursday Thought:

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More than a Flight of Fancy!

March 11, 2015 Comments Off on More than a Flight of Fancy!

Have you been following the Solar Impulse?  The first solar-only powered airplane to attempt a flight around the world.  The pilots say they are “2 men who want to move the world.”  It’s an exciting adventure.  Go to http://www.solarimpulse.com/ to follow their flight in real time, read their travel log, find out what got them started–all sorts of fascinating information in words and pictures.

These guys are turning their flight of fancy into an actual flight that will benefit both the earth and mankind.

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In Danger for Sticking by her Conscience

March 10, 2015 2 comments

One woman is receiving threats and has to have security because she refused to cave in.  She was the only one who stuck to her “no” vote on whether to execute Jodi Arias.  It wasn’t a religious decision or that she was opposed to the death penalty.  We have to believe her on that; lawyers put prospective jurors through rigorous questioning to disqualify such people. Rather, there was something nagging at her conscience, making her unsure that death was appropriate in this case.

And she wasn’t the only one.  Four members of the original jury also refused to vote for death for Arias.  And those jurors heard the entire case, not an abridged version of it, as this last jury did.

Putting a human being to death is a very serious decision to make.  That’s why it must be unanimous.  And why we must respect the people who have enough doubt to vote against it.

What would have happened if the original four and this one woman had been replaced with others?  Would they have  interpreted facts differently? Would they have felt that doubt but, nonetheless, been influenced to vote with the majority?  Would that have been any more just than the real outcome?

There are too many uncontrollable factors going into jury selection, and a judge alone should not make the determination.  This, in itself, should be reason enough to eliminate the death penalty in America.

 

 

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Can You Unplug?

March 7, 2015 Comments Off on Can You Unplug?

Tonight we begin a National Day of Unplugging (March 7-8). During this annual event, we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset to sunset, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often take precedence over interacting with other people.  So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.

 

 

 

 

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On Harrison Ford, Small Airports, and Housing

March 6, 2015 Comments Off on On Harrison Ford, Small Airports, and Housing

The Harrison Ford plane crash on Penmar Golf Course in Venice, CA, has spotlighted again the dangers of living close to a small airport.  We have the same situation here, in my hometown of San Jose, CA.  People are upset by the nearness of the municipal airport to their homes.

This baffles me.  In our case, the small-aircraft airport was built, then housing built up around it later.  In the case of Penmore, it appears that the airport and some homes were being built at the same time and others built later around it.  My question is, Why build homes in an unsafe area?  Or, in the case of people having homes where an airport is proposed, why not fight it harder (Venice is NOT a poor area).

Fast forward to today from 1962, when Penmore was built, or from 1937, when our Reid-Hillview Airport had its ground-breaking.  Houses have changed hands many times.  Why did people buy them, choosing to live so close to what they’re now calling a big danger?  Even if air traffic for light planes has increased over the years, a reasonable person whould have foreseen that.

I don’t mean to minimize people’s fear for their families’ safety in their own homes, although damage and injury from planes in such an area is quite rare.  But I do expect people to think before they act and, once they’ve made the decision, to respect the rights of others who use or work at the airport.  In other words, they should live with their decision or move.

 

 

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I’ve Been Meaning to Wish You…

March 4, 2015 Comments Off on I’ve Been Meaning to Wish You…

Happy National Procrastination Week, offered by The Procrastinators’ Club of America, Inc., whose declared aim is “To promote the many benefits of putting off until tomorrow everything that needn’t be done today.”  Actually, the Week began last Sunday, March 1, and goes through this Saturday.  So we’re half-way through.

As I said, I’ve been meaning to wish you….

 

 

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Get on the Bus!

March 3, 2015 Comments Off on Get on the Bus!

Recently, although it’s been around since 1999, I discovered a marvelous family-protecting organization called Get on the Bus.  They make sure that children don’t lose contact with their parents who are in prison.  That’s a lot of kids–200,000 CA kids have a parent who is incarcerated, 1.5 + million kids in the U.S.

Get on the Bus brings groups of kids and their caregivers to share a day with Mom or Dad.  They provide free transportation, a travel bag, a photo with their parent, and food for the day.  When they’re on their way home each child is given a teddy bear and a note from the parent.

This is great for families, who often fall away after a person is in prison a year.  It removes the fear of visiting a prison and encourages those who can visit on their own to do so.  It helps keep inmates in touch with family and the Outside, making reintegrating into society once released easier and more possible, thus lessening the chance of being a repeat offender.

Read more about Get on the Bus at their website.  Then, if you don’t live in CA, see about getting a similar program going in your state.   It’s a win-win for everyone.

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