arts and craft show

Getting ready to go to Santa Fe NM and do an arts and crafts show. Family manufactures and sells wine jellies, bbq sauces, mustards. All are wine and or spirit based and actually delicious. I feel that I am getting a little long in the tooth to set up and do these shows, but they have to be done.

current ills continued

Now that I am declared cured . . . Woke up this morning with throat closed up and can hardly breathe. Now it seems to me that whatever I have is moving up my body - leg, chest now windpipe. Seems to me that they could have looked at the possibility that I might have been experiencing a massive allergic reaction to something. I doubt that I was bitten by anything - no stings, bite marks, welts, or any other outward sign of anything. I had a reaction to one of the meals in the hospital (chicken and dumplings - or by its right name cardboard and wallpaper paste; salad with italian dressing - or lettuce and vinegar.) Have another benadryl ready in case I close up again. I am allergic to bee stings.

hospital time

Spent the last four days in Boswell Hospital - Sun City. Background - I was in Glendale on biz when I sort of collapsed (I blacked out and got right back up.) Anyway, driving there my hands were shaking like crazy and arms were very cold. I called 911 (Yes the position locator on the Iphone works). Ambulance came and hauled my butt off to the emergency room. ER doc named Patel declared me sick as he found a large red sploch on my right leg and promply flicked his bic and drew a line around the splotch - to contain it, I guess. I was then declared as having some sort of infection coupled with severe dehydration. Ohh Kay. So off I get whizzed (and by now I really needed to whizz even in my dehydrated state.) I was assigned a heart doctor, (named Patel) in case the infection was in one or more of my ticker valves - did I mention that a line of battle was drawn around the offending cellitis, their term not mine. Three different antibiotics were IV'd into me along with the required saline solution, Only took 8 stabs in the back of my hand for the blood tests. Hmmmm. Then they pulled out what seemed like a gallon of my red stuff radiated it and then put it back into me for scanning 18 hours later. Of course the infectuous disease doc (named Patel - go figure). I was declared cured (Thank some Indian Gods for such a miracle, I suppose. Now a script for Keflex, watch my temperature, get lots of rest and live long and prosper.

restaurants, buffets

have you ever eaten in a Buffet - of course you have. Sort of middle of the road hot stuff that you get yourself. Anyway, I never know what to tip the people that come by occasionally and pick up the dirty plates. Seems wrong to go the whole 15 or 20% as one is really doing all the go and get things. So, a buck? two bucks?

Writing

Got about 2500 words written today. Certainly a nice bit to edit tomorrow. Editing is probably more important than the original typing. However, to get the ideas out of the brain box and on paper is really a good feeling for me.

alternative energy

Went to Holbrook Az to a wind farm. Interesting trip and some info to pass on. Saw a bald eagle (cool) and a grey wolf (cooler) as I was driving along. Wind farm south of Holbrook. Blades are 130 feet long. SRP will be buying the wind generated megawatts. However, when they need the power most - in the hot summer - the wind doesn't blow (go figure). Plans are to expand the operation to include solar panels and more windmills. On the way back through Apache country found a radio station that was broadcasting in the Apache language. Found out that the word 'homeowner' has no real translation in that language. (way cool)

senate hearings

What a sham! The new nominee for the Supreme Court seems to be in some sort of 'scripted' dialogue with Senators who, in turn are trying to use words to express how inflated important they are. What a crock. Bork was rejected because he smoked pot and could have been the smartest person on the high bench. This one will be put in because she is mediocre. Go figure. It's all politics. Period - full stop.

Bastille Day

Great day to open a nice Bordeau.

driving

had to drive a package to kingman last night - got back at 5AM. Long drive. ran over a deer that had already been hit by someone before me.

stress test

Went and had my heart looked after today. I have been having a few chest pains and did not know if they were undigested mutton or mustard. Anyway, after four passes with the nuke machine, and chemical stress tests, they pronounced me as having a heart episode - no heavy lifting, stress, or strenous activity. In other words, not much of an answer. I go to the VA. And, I am very happy to say that I have not one complaint about the system. They have given me a triple bypass, surgeried my foot and generally kept me reasonably well over the years. I listen to the people in the waiting rooms complain about how they have to wait. They usually are walk-ins without appointments. Damn fools in my opinion.

news

I am a self admitted news junkie. No I am not going to check myself into some 12 step program to break my addiction. I have to know what is going on in the world. I do not ever think that my knowing will change any of the crap that goes on. The only thing that does get changed (sometimes) is how I view an issue. Michael jackson's funeral, in mty opinipon was over covered. I suppose that the ratings for the news outlets went up so the bottom lines got a bit of a bump. I do worry that newspapers will succumb to the tv and both will eventually somehow meet their demise at the door of the dot com realm. Doing the New York Times crossword is somehow less on the computer screen. At 75 cents a pop, newspapers are getting more expensive - Like beer cheaper than coke.

arizona heat

Hot here in the valley. 103 at 9AM. Out on the bike - had to run up to Fountain Hills (about 35 miles from home), Not a bad ride even though it was hot. Dry heat, I guess. I really miss the trees and grass and growing my 'jungle' back in Florida. Oh well . . . Monsoon season is here - I guess we will get some rain - about 4 drops so far.

Independence Day

Now the fireworks are over (for those who were lucky enough to see them this year) it is back to summer as usual. I had to go down to the Nogales area. I did stop at the Santa Xavier mission. Neat. The building is being restored and white washed. Indian market outside. If you are ever travelling south on Rte 19 toward Nogales, take a few minutes to stop. Terrible frozen tough steak for dinner. Since my kid years have tried to have salmon and peas for the fourth. Don't have any idea how that tradition started. Ate outside on the lawn. This year shoeleather and a glass of wine.

seniors

Yup, I'm here in seniorsville coping with Social Security, aches, pains and all the other crap that makes the promise of the golden years seem like a wisp of smoke from one of my occasional good cigars. No one tells us that the years will be filled with arthritis, acid reflux, fibromyalgia, intestinal gas and the like. Just look at the ads for the 'senior communities' - all are running around playing tennis, golf and lawn darts in designer duds. Hmmm, seems like advertising hooey to me. We areempowered by AARP (an insurance company front), 401k plans that are not worth the paper they are written on. 'Welcome to Walmart' - is this our real retirement destiny? Who has some other thoughts out there in cyberland?????

theatre decorum wicked

Went to see Wicked last nite. Cute. I was facinated by the attire and slovenliness of the patrons. Cut off jeans, dirty tee shirts, cell phone use during the performance. Sort of like a beatnik coffee house in the 50's and 60's. Maybe I am an old far* but I think that the venue and the performance should be shown some respect. Or am I from forgotten place in the dark ages? Sort of like most of the things around me. Conversations in 140 characters or less (twitter, etc.) are the norm. 'Hooking up' is the relationship choice. McWhatever is going out to dinner. Snapshots are of vulvas not faces.