A resident in St. James wrote this in our local newsletter:
"CaringBridge is a wonderfully non-invasive way of maintaining contact and support during times of illness, injury, hospitalization, or any other form of crisis. "It is a non-profit organization which offers free, easy-to-create web sites that help connect family and friends when they need it most."
I learned about it very recently when a friend from Vermont was hospitalized in Boston for a very serious surgery and lengthy hospital stay. Rather than each of his friends and family calling daily, CaringBridge set up a web site in which his wife can report his daily progress to anyone who goes to the web site. Additionally, family and friends can write messages of caring and support back for her to read at the hospital in down moments. It is a much easier way for her to keep all friends and family informed daily without having to email or call each of them individually, and it is wonderfully supportive for her to read, in her own time, daily messages from people who care but do not want to disturb her. Perhaps equally important is the fact that it is a much more direct and reliable source of information than word of mouth from friend to friend.
Our next door neighbor recently died of cancer and I recall how we and our neighbors wrestled over how to stay in touch with his family but did not want to be intrusive through frequent visits and phone calls. A site like Caringbridge would have helped. I think it is a great idea and suggest all make a note of it for future reference.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Drambuie Returns Home
Saturday, Jason and me brought Drambuie back to St. James. The trip was uneventful and at times rather monotonous but the pass through Wilmington is kind of fun since we pass the battleship USS North Carolina (now a local tourist attraction).
The battleship is sited directly across the Cape Fear river from downtown Wilmington. This picture shows the city waterfront viewed from beneath the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
The Wilmington Port is located a mile or two further downriver. I recall just a few years ago the excitement in the California Bay Area when some new container cranes (also known as portainers) were shipped into the bay from Japan. There was some suspense involved as to whether they would fit under the Golden Gate Bridge. They did.
Last month there was a good deal of interest here in the Wilmington area when four new container cranes arrived from China - they may have not had to go under the Golden Gate but there was drama involved in their arrival. The ship carrying the cranes was manunvering too offload the cranes when it came too close to a dredge anchored on the opposite shore. All four of the cranes struck the bardge. I've heard that damges were several million dollars but question that since they are scheudled to be in service by April 1st.
The four blue cranes in the foreground are the new arrivals. This link provides information on the cranes and a photo of the cranes being shipped up the river.
The battleship is sited directly across the Cape Fear river from downtown Wilmington. This picture shows the city waterfront viewed from beneath the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
The Wilmington Port is located a mile or two further downriver. I recall just a few years ago the excitement in the California Bay Area when some new container cranes (also known as portainers) were shipped into the bay from Japan. There was some suspense involved as to whether they would fit under the Golden Gate Bridge. They did.
Last month there was a good deal of interest here in the Wilmington area when four new container cranes arrived from China - they may have not had to go under the Golden Gate but there was drama involved in their arrival. The ship carrying the cranes was manunvering too offload the cranes when it came too close to a dredge anchored on the opposite shore. All four of the cranes struck the bardge. I've heard that damges were several million dollars but question that since they are scheudled to be in service by April 1st.
The four blue cranes in the foreground are the new arrivals. This link provides information on the cranes and a photo of the cranes being shipped up the river.
Friday, March 09, 2007
New Orleans #1
Next month I plan to go to New Orleans with a group from our church, St. Phillips Episcopal. I'm going to blog my experience of the journey. Therefore, I'll start with the meeting I attended last week.
I had heard and already planned to go on this trip before the intro meeting last week. St. Phillips has done this in prior years so I'll be going with some experienced people. Volunteers going to New Orleans are primarily engaged in demolition at this stage. As I understand, they are still trying to sort out what the requirements will be for rebuilding, e.g. elevation, code standards, etc.
We will go as a group of twelve, renting a van and taking two days there and two days back. We will be in New Orleans for five days. I'll have to shoulder some cost such as a motel room for one day (I'll share with another and he will pay the other day) and, although meals will be prepared where we stay, we plan to eat out 2-3 times to give ourselves a break and to support the local economy.
To prepare for the trip I went to the county health department and got a tetanus shot to be sure I was recent and a Hepatitis A vaccine. The Hep A is required 4 weeks prior to need and really consist of two shots, the first one which I got yesterday and a second (permanent) shot in six months.
There will be one more meeting at the end of the month to firm up on some of the details and hopefully meet everyone going. The volunteer work is being coordinated the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and their website details information and forms needed to participate. We will be staying at Chapel House which you can see has luxuriant cots to sleep on.
I had heard and already planned to go on this trip before the intro meeting last week. St. Phillips has done this in prior years so I'll be going with some experienced people. Volunteers going to New Orleans are primarily engaged in demolition at this stage. As I understand, they are still trying to sort out what the requirements will be for rebuilding, e.g. elevation, code standards, etc.
We will go as a group of twelve, renting a van and taking two days there and two days back. We will be in New Orleans for five days. I'll have to shoulder some cost such as a motel room for one day (I'll share with another and he will pay the other day) and, although meals will be prepared where we stay, we plan to eat out 2-3 times to give ourselves a break and to support the local economy.
To prepare for the trip I went to the county health department and got a tetanus shot to be sure I was recent and a Hepatitis A vaccine. The Hep A is required 4 weeks prior to need and really consist of two shots, the first one which I got yesterday and a second (permanent) shot in six months.
There will be one more meeting at the end of the month to firm up on some of the details and hopefully meet everyone going. The volunteer work is being coordinated the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and their website details information and forms needed to participate. We will be staying at Chapel House which you can see has luxuriant cots to sleep on.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The Impossible Quiz Deluxe
Its a very big file and takes a long while to download I(suggest you go wash your dogs while waiting - or your neighbor's dogs if you don't have any) but this quiz is CHALLENGING with, as the author says, some insane, hard questions. Many are amusing and at times logic will prevail, other times, just guess. I've already spent way too much of my retirement on this thing so decided to inflict it on others.
Drambuie Hauled Away
Last Thursday Jason and I took Drambuie to Bennett Brothers Boatyard to have her hauled. Although the temperature was around 60 degrees it was still chilly with a NE wind blowing 15-20 knots off the water (water temp was 55 deg.). The trip was uneventful but long since we fought the current the entire trip plus wind against us two-thirds of the way. Last year the trip took four hours, this time, six.
The most fun was getting the Isabel Holmes Bridge to open during rush hour. The bridge is one of two which cross the Cape Fear from Wilmington to points south including Myrtle Beach. The first picture shows Drambuie waiting to be hauled with the bridge in the background. Okay, I have to admit, even with rush hour traffic I doubt we stopped more then 20-30 vehicles.
The boat wasn't actually hauled until Monday due to backlog at the boatyard. The local currents forced the haul outs to be tightly scheduled to the tide and sometimes have a narrow window. I drove the boat to the lift and other then playing a little ping-pong off the pilings it went smoothly. Since they wanted to haul two boats during slack they had me move up before the current fully stopped so that plus a quartering wind made it a little challenging. It wasn't graceful but my litany has become "no one hurt, nothing broken = good docking."
Shortly after haul out she was pressure washed and I was surprised and pleased to see that the bottom paint was still in very good condition. The only area encrusted was the propeller and shaft.
If all goes according to plan, she'll get a paint job on her bottom and be put back in the water on Thursday. If done early Thursday we will bring here back home that same day.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Conservative, Liberal or Transgender?
If you've wondered where you fall on the political spectrum, especially compared to some famous politicos, check out this website Answer the 25 questions to find out where you fall on the political spectrum.
I've long considered myself a centrist and that is exactly what I scored, Colon Powell and I have something in common. What I found interesting is the difficulty in answering some questions which showed how I'd like to have my cake and eat it too - lower taxes but don't cut programs. All the politicians like to promise that but you know its really impossible, after all, they'd have to reduce government to do that.
The quiz doesn't tell you if you're transgender, I just threw that in to catch your interest.
I've long considered myself a centrist and that is exactly what I scored, Colon Powell and I have something in common. What I found interesting is the difficulty in answering some questions which showed how I'd like to have my cake and eat it too - lower taxes but don't cut programs. All the politicians like to promise that but you know its really impossible, after all, they'd have to reduce government to do that.
The quiz doesn't tell you if you're transgender, I just threw that in to catch your interest.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Medical Advice
Thank God Hazel and I woke early this morning. If we hadn't, we never would have seen the TV program. We brewed some coffee and sat up in bed to watch the morning news. Not easily done in this area as none of the local stations were broadcasting news.
But what we did find was paid programming on Colon Flow. Colon Flow! Wow, it was so informative. There were these two women discussing the seriousness of poor colon flow (you know, sort of interview style). Did you know you can accumulate up to 4.5 lbs of fecal waste per DAY! This was supported by a neat bar chart (the claim, not...)
Think about it, if you do not have a bowel movement for a month you could be a 135lbs heavier. Poor colon flow can lead to a bloated feeling. And, after a month, the gaseous discharge would certainly cause you to be seriously shunned, not to mention how upset people might be at your constant interruptions. Further, they told how you could develop a protruding stomach - you think?
Well there is good news. There is a remedy, but I missed that part due to contemplation of the serious consequences, I was overwhelmed. Whew!
But what we did find was paid programming on Colon Flow. Colon Flow! Wow, it was so informative. There were these two women discussing the seriousness of poor colon flow (you know, sort of interview style). Did you know you can accumulate up to 4.5 lbs of fecal waste per DAY! This was supported by a neat bar chart (the claim, not...)
Think about it, if you do not have a bowel movement for a month you could be a 135lbs heavier. Poor colon flow can lead to a bloated feeling. And, after a month, the gaseous discharge would certainly cause you to be seriously shunned, not to mention how upset people might be at your constant interruptions. Further, they told how you could develop a protruding stomach - you think?
Well there is good news. There is a remedy, but I missed that part due to contemplation of the serious consequences, I was overwhelmed. Whew!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Stolen Social Security Number
An article in the New York Times discusses how insecure your social security number is. That's no surprise, especially when states, even now send out letters with your number on the exterior of the envelope.
For my part, I've long resented the use of my number by colleges and others as a identification number. It was never intended for that use and too many institutions liked to automatically use it rather then assign their own number.
Anyway, in the NY Times article is reference to a website called stolenidsearch.com that will check your social security number to see if it is in a database of compromised numbers. You might want to check yours.
The website is trying to sell their service and it brought up another pet peeve I have. I've found websites now try to get you into the sign-up process before they reveal the cost. They must figure once you start you are likely to continue to sign-up regardless of cost. I resent that too. I'm pretty resentful aren't I?
Frankly, I think stolenID search is way too pricey at $49 (after a $20 discount). There are other ways to monitor your financial privacy.
For my part, I've long resented the use of my number by colleges and others as a identification number. It was never intended for that use and too many institutions liked to automatically use it rather then assign their own number.
Anyway, in the NY Times article is reference to a website called stolenidsearch.com that will check your social security number to see if it is in a database of compromised numbers. You might want to check yours.
The website is trying to sell their service and it brought up another pet peeve I have. I've found websites now try to get you into the sign-up process before they reveal the cost. They must figure once you start you are likely to continue to sign-up regardless of cost. I resent that too. I'm pretty resentful aren't I?
Frankly, I think stolenID search is way too pricey at $49 (after a $20 discount). There are other ways to monitor your financial privacy.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Golf Sentiment
"Golf fairways should be made more narrow. Then everyone would have to play from the rough, not just me."
- Seve Ballesteros
My sentiments exactly.
- Seve Ballesteros
My sentiments exactly.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Porch Remodel
Last year was devoted to getting Drambuie cruise ready and the townhouse remodeled. This year I will be devoting the bulk of my time to our house. One of the projects was to modify our porch so we could more easily see our yard and the pond.
Many of our neighbors have had their porchs enclosed with windows, making sun rooms. In my mind that tends to isolate them from the outside and more important, would drain our bank account. So, using Photoshop, I did a before and after image to see what it would look like if I increased the screen height. Not too bad, so the work commenced last week.
And here is the end result, nice huh?
Many of our neighbors have had their porchs enclosed with windows, making sun rooms. In my mind that tends to isolate them from the outside and more important, would drain our bank account. So, using Photoshop, I did a before and after image to see what it would look like if I increased the screen height. Not too bad, so the work commenced last week.
And here is the end result, nice huh?
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Like Souls
I think the Internet is wonderful. It allows us to find those that have views like ours. No longer do we need to feel like lost souls.
And there is that nice republican in Cleveland.
And there is that nice republican in Cleveland.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Living With Ed
A new show premiered in January on HGTV, "Living With Ed." I think it is a gem with plenty of humor plus an environmental statement. Actor Ed Begley portrays himself and co-stars with his wife, Rachelle Carson. The show is set in their real life home in Hollywood and is based around Ed Begleys real passion for the environment.
The PR blurbs for the show describe it better then I, "Actress Rachelle Carson often sees red over living green with her quirky, eco-obsessed husband, the Emmy-nominated actor Ed Begley Jr. The result is HGTV’s hilarious and feisty new family docu-soap, Living with Ed."
The chemistry between the two is fantastic. Hazel and I thoroughly enjoy watching the show as well being environmentally inspired - I bought some low energy light bulbs yesterday. Now, I wonder if the property owners association would let me put solar panels on our roof?
The PR blurbs for the show describe it better then I, "Actress Rachelle Carson often sees red over living green with her quirky, eco-obsessed husband, the Emmy-nominated actor Ed Begley Jr. The result is HGTV’s hilarious and feisty new family docu-soap, Living with Ed."
The chemistry between the two is fantastic. Hazel and I thoroughly enjoy watching the show as well being environmentally inspired - I bought some low energy light bulbs yesterday. Now, I wonder if the property owners association would let me put solar panels on our roof?
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
"Ghost Town" of Chernobyl
I'll not post this today. Wait a few days because today is Valentines Day. But this travelogue on Chernobyl called Ghost Town and Land of the Wolves is too powerful and sobering not to see. I quickly gained immense respect for the author, Elena Filatova and recommend you visit her website where she has chronicled other places and events such as the Soviet Gulags.
Elena may have a flair for the dramatic but is still a superb chronicler. Her references to Wormwood should be balanced against Wikipedia information. The entire chronicle may take an hour and a half to read. Each page is a "chapter" in her URL address so you can read a segment and return later to a new section by altering the chapter number in the URL to resume the narrative. Please take a look and then decide how much you want to read.
I also suggest reading more about the Chrnobyl disaster in Wikipedia.
We live about ten miles from a nuclear power plant. I told Hazel if we heard their siren that we would run for the car and drive like hell. On the other hand, there are always risks in our lives, I suspect we are safer living here then driving on the Bay Area freeways. (By the way, you can HEAR that siren!)
Elena may have a flair for the dramatic but is still a superb chronicler. Her references to Wormwood should be balanced against Wikipedia information. The entire chronicle may take an hour and a half to read. Each page is a "chapter" in her URL address so you can read a segment and return later to a new section by altering the chapter number in the URL to resume the narrative. Please take a look and then decide how much you want to read.
I also suggest reading more about the Chrnobyl disaster in Wikipedia.
We live about ten miles from a nuclear power plant. I told Hazel if we heard their siren that we would run for the car and drive like hell. On the other hand, there are always risks in our lives, I suspect we are safer living here then driving on the Bay Area freeways. (By the way, you can HEAR that siren!)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Restaurant Reviews for San Francisco
Monday, February 12, 2007
Church Calisthenics
We were in church singing the processional hynm "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."
Now that is a good song to start the service as it is a fast and lively way to greet the day. As a matter of fact, it is anarerobic if you truly sing it per the notes.
Beethoven wrote the music and Henry J. vanDyke wrote the words:
"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
I wonder if Beethoven really expected his music would be put to words? In any case, as a good Episcopalian I got to feel righteous for getting in all that good exercise. Oh, and it was cheaper then the athletic club membership...what, 10%? You gotta be kidding!
Now that is a good song to start the service as it is a fast and lively way to greet the day. As a matter of fact, it is anarerobic if you truly sing it per the notes.
Beethoven wrote the music and Henry J. vanDyke wrote the words:
"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
I wonder if Beethoven really expected his music would be put to words? In any case, as a good Episcopalian I got to feel righteous for getting in all that good exercise. Oh, and it was cheaper then the athletic club membership...what, 10%? You gotta be kidding!
New York Snow
When I was a boy the type of snowfall upstate New York is receiving was one of the more exciting events in my life. It meant eating breakfast and anxiously listening to the school closings on WBEN. When we heard "all Buffalo public and parochial schools are closed," we knew that our school district would soon be listed as well. Whee.
But watching homeowners shoveling snow off their roofs reminds me of one year when we lived in Chicago. We received over 90 inches and as is the case now, many people were clamoring onto the roof to shovel it off. In Chicago, this did not happen in very often so people were not experienced with rooftop snow removal. Many came off the roof much faster then they went on - and sometimes continued to the hospital.
What the news reports do not mention is that it is not only the snow weight that is a problem but freezing and thawing of the lower layers develops a solid layer of ice. Thus you have the weight plus the expansion of the ice creating crevices for water intrusion. I was on the roof with a garden hose run through a window to a hot water tap. The hot water melted the ice at the roof level and, using an axe, I chopped the ice into blocks and shoved them off the roof. If that had been a more common occurrence I'm sure we would have been pushing snow off the roof long before it caked into ice. Better insulation might have been a good idea as well but I had a better one, we moved to California.
But watching homeowners shoveling snow off their roofs reminds me of one year when we lived in Chicago. We received over 90 inches and as is the case now, many people were clamoring onto the roof to shovel it off. In Chicago, this did not happen in very often so people were not experienced with rooftop snow removal. Many came off the roof much faster then they went on - and sometimes continued to the hospital.
What the news reports do not mention is that it is not only the snow weight that is a problem but freezing and thawing of the lower layers develops a solid layer of ice. Thus you have the weight plus the expansion of the ice creating crevices for water intrusion. I was on the roof with a garden hose run through a window to a hot water tap. The hot water melted the ice at the roof level and, using an axe, I chopped the ice into blocks and shoved them off the roof. If that had been a more common occurrence I'm sure we would have been pushing snow off the roof long before it caked into ice. Better insulation might have been a good idea as well but I had a better one, we moved to California.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Our Furry Grandchild
Last summer we got to see our grandchildren Tyler and Maya for the first time. Then when we returned to the Bay Area in September, Travis and Aki were married. The special event for our Januray 2007 trip was to meet our furry grandchild, Jax.
Jax is already into politics. We were sitting on the sofa, looking at the San Francisco Chrnonicle. It soon became apparent that Jax is a republican when he started to take issue with some of the newspaper comments. At first it was rather civilized and he simply pointed out liberal (bashing) comments about George W. Bush that he considered objectionable.
As he studied the paper he became more agitated and really began to get his teeth into the subject.
Before we were done it was a regular dogfight.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Superbowl
I feel some blogs coming on, sort of like a cold. Or maybe its a feeling of constipation...anyhow, got to "dump" this one to be timely.
The Bears are going to win tomorrow! The pundits are wrong. Not only that, Chicago will win decisively!
Posted so that Monday I can say "I told you so." Yes, I won't hesitate to tell you so - y'all should recognize my astuteness.
Postscript: The game is over and..uh oh, did I say Bears, gee I ment to say Colts, just can't keep my animals straight anymore.
The Bears are going to win tomorrow! The pundits are wrong. Not only that, Chicago will win decisively!
Posted so that Monday I can say "I told you so." Yes, I won't hesitate to tell you so - y'all should recognize my astuteness.
Postscript: The game is over and..uh oh, did I say Bears, gee I ment to say Colts, just can't keep my animals straight anymore.
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