Another Milestone

It went by without my notice.
My first post here was published 26Apr05.
So I've now been blogging here 15 years.
Yes, FaceBook has made a dent.
But when I want to express myself in detail, I still do it here.

Fifteen years...
That's a lotta water 'neath the bridge.

Tribute Bands

 In Branson, MO last year we saw tributes to ABBA, Elvis, and the Temptations. (The Temptations group had a couple guys that actually sang with the original group.)
In Destin, FL in the Fall, we saw wonderful acts playing songs made popular by the BeeGees and Chicago.
And it made me think-
"Journey" is still touring.
There's a fabulous Filipino singer out front that sounds more like Steve Perry than Steve Perry. Some of the original backup players now performing are not from the original group. So the question:
Isn't the present "Journey" group now a "Tribute Band" for all intents?

Rock and roll is here to stay, I know that very well!

"What's That?"

Pointing under our coffee table she exclaimed, "WHAT'S THAT"?

It was moving, slowly. I had no trouble identifying it... a spider, about the size of a U.S. quarter dollar.
She immediately reached for a slipper to squish it.

"Don't do that!" I shouted...
"I'll take care of it."

I got up, got a wine glass, and covered him/her.
And we finished watching an episode of "Twilight Zone" and two episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" on "MeTV".
I then got a stout piece of printer paper, slid it 'neath the glass, and carried glass, paper, and spider outdoors where she/he belonged.

One of God's amazing inventions, I've always been fascinated with spiders and snakes.
And yes, they have a place in our world.
That place is... out of doors.

Sara Jean thinks I'm crazy.
I wonder what God thinks?

Chernobyl

HBO.
Five episodes, each about an hour long.
And I'll have trouble describing how excellent I think it is.

We couldn't help thinking about comparisons to the Covid-19 situation we find ourselves in:
"Is our government handling this competently? Are we being lied to? Are they using this to consolidate their power to further control us?"

Anyone with an interest in the Chernobyl disaster probably knows most of the "big pieces" shown in this mini-series. But for me, there were several details that were illuminating. Most of us cannot fathom how many people were impacted, how much geography, and how far into the future this catastrophe will reach.

If you have any interest, and have access to the series, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Bread

I like bread. 
I love it fresh out of the oven, still warm, so the REAL BUTTER melts on it.
For a guy who's "height challenged" with newly diagnosed blood glucose issues, that's a problem.

Years ago, Mother bought us one of those bread makers.
You add all the ingredients and turn it on. It mixes, kneads, and bakes automatically. When it BEEPS you have a one-pound loaf to spread butter on. (Don't forget to remove the little stirring thingy from the bottom of the loaf as Mother did, or your machine becomes useless.)

With my weight/cholesterol/glucose troubles we realized the bread maker had to be retired.
So it is now gathering dust out in the utility room next to some of the other "gadget" appliances we have acquired along the way. (Why did we ever think we'd make regular use of that thing that makes a sort of frozen yogurt out of fruits?)

I miss bread and butter.
Life is cruel.

Losing My Medical Certificate?

A little over a year ago I registered with the VA because of my Agent Orange exposure in Viet Nam.
I don't think my exposure to the chemical was serious, but who knows? So, "just in case", I threw my name into the pool. Little did I know the machinery I was setting in motion!

I was called in for lab work.
Not extensive stuff... just height, weight, blood pressure, a couple vials of blood, pee in the bottle, and a consult with a Doctor.
My blood pressure was slightly elevated. My blood glucose number was through the roof.
I was diagnosed as diabetic.
The Doc prescribed several medicines. I'm now using one of those pill dispensers I used to see "old" people using. Mine has a little cubby for Sunday through Saturday and AM/PM.
It takes me about 20 minutes to sort the meds and the food supplements I also use into the dispenser.
What a pain.

So time rolls on and I go see my Flight Surgeon to renew my med certificate.
Like the honest trooper I am, I listed in detail the pharmaceuticals and dosages my VA Doc prescribed.

A month or so ago I got a letter from the FAA:
"So you're taking Terazosin, Oxybutinin, and Metformin, huh? How nice! Maybe we'll deny your medical. Have your Doctor type up a detailed letter telling us more about why you need this stuff."

The FAA, like virtually every bureaucracy on earth, has resorted to a phone system manned by machines: "Press one to not be disconnected", etc.
I spent half an hour waiting to speak with a live human, then got disconnected.
When I called back I was informed the office was closed and I should "call back during business hours".

Next day, after another half-hour wait, I did speak with a live person and got a 30-day extension so I can get back home to work with my VA Doctor about clearing this up...
IF we can clear this up.

The idea of losing my medical certificate when I feel great and want to get out and do some more teaching?
Disheartening.

This getting old is frustrating.

Podcasts

I enjoy podcasts.
While we're suffering like caged animals, they can  be entertaining and informative.
I became aware of Bill Whittle back in 2005 when he was writing a weblog.
He's a pilot. He's clued in to what's going on in the world.
And he's SMART AS A WHIP.

I wish he'd run for president in 2024.
Spend an hour watching the above video and see if you don't emerge agreeing with me.

"You might think I'm crazy"... The Cars

And if you do, skip this one.
I'm always trying to "think ahead of the aircraft".
And that attitude has been a positive effect my entire life.

There's a little old lady lives just down the street from us.
She's about 80, cute; in good health, and she's smart enough to maintain her distance from us when we stop to converse.
After a conversation with her the other night I was "thinking ahead".
... If I'm a guy with a family and kids, and my kids get hungry... and there's nothin' but dust in my wallet, what am I gonna do?
Initially I'll try to find help that's available.
Government will be handing out goodies.
If I belong to a Church, they might help.
Good Samaritan neighbors might also work together.
But if this thing lasts a long time, those venues might start drying up.
Then what?

I don't know about you, but if my kids are crying and hungry, I'm gonna find A WAY.
And little old ladies in reasonably affluent neighborhoods might just be an attractive target.
I hope she is prepared. Next time we chat with her, although I hate to do it, I may scare her just a little bit.

You don't need to be scared.
Remember the mantra:
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.