So, what's for supper and other inane questions

 Inane Inane Inane

I like that word.  It fits so much in my world. 

Another word that I took JOY in using during a band rehearsal was asinine.  It sounds so close to being dirty.  Shock and Awe.   You can use certain words to shock students into listening to you.  "What's he gonna say next?"  Flip-Flops.  I really do hate seeing flip flops. When I was much younger - the year had to be about 1965 or 66 - we made a driving trip to California to visit uncles and great aunts.  We took 2 cars.  My parents were in one; we were in the other; and, several family members rode along.  It was a nice LONG trip from Levelland.  First trip to Disneyland and Knotts berry farm.

In California that trip was the first time I saw flip-flops.  Out there, some were calling them Come Alongs.  Okay.  But they were also called thongs.  Look at their construction.  Thongs fits.  For years, I was naive and used the thong name.  Eventually, someone told me that THONG was a name for a certain type of underwear.  I didn't know.  How was I to know?  Still, in a fit of "gotchas" I would use the Thong name.  It suited me just fine.  

Family stone:  on that trip, our oldest daughter was just learning to walk and talk.  Still, her diaper was supreme.  You had to work around dirty diapers.  And, I believe we didn't have anything but cloth ones.  Maybe there were the others.  I don't remember since I rarely changed one.  One day, we had a particularly good lunch and then went out on the California town.  A few hours later, the diaper filled.  My mother, who had a way with the English language, chose to change the "dirty" diaper.  I hate dirty diapers  {Dirty is NOT the same as Wet}.  As she began the task, I heard her cry out,  "DANG CORN!!"  You can imagine the diaper contents.  Exactly at that moment, the baby cried out,  "DANG CORN!!"   Her first complete sentence at an appropriate time.  Occasionally today, you might here one of our family exclaim,  "Dang Corn!" at an appropriate time.   It says it all.

Speaking of language, mom was not shy about her language.  She and my father had several words in their vocabulary - or dictionary.  They were both born in 1910 and lived pretty much in the back woods of Oklahoma.  She = Kaw City (now a lake)  and  He = Temple, Okla.  One of my mom's favorites in the above mentioned dirty diaper area, was when a child had a loose movement, she would proclaim:   "Shizzalin Grits."  You can work on those 2 words if you wish.  It says it all again.  I was somewhere in my 20s before I figured out what she was saying.  Naive is my middle name.

But, this was not what I planned to write about.  We all get lost at times.

----First of all, we have 3 dogs in this house.  One is named Bella.  This morning, Bella shook the house as she began a barking fit that was soon joined by the others.   We are planning to give her the  --    Bella No Peace Prize.   We're hoping she qualifies.

-----Speaking of animals.... I read online that at a certain age (we're there already)  Women begin to collect dogs.  Some get several cats instead.  Cat Ladies, yet.  This is called:   "Many Paws" amongst polite company.

====I heard about a cat in Australia who roams the neighborhood and steals clothes off clotheslines.  He carries them home and embarrasses his parents.  Underwear, one sock, whatever.  You'd think people might be offended.  The owners post photos of the items for retrieval.  It is said that some neighbors are getting mad - why? - because the cat has not stolen anything from them.  Who'd a thought?

-----On Facebook this lady was so excited because she had had a fox come into her backyard.  Took a photo.  She said the fox was looking carefully at her and her little dog.   Yep, the picture was a Coyote.  The lady had been putting out food and water.  Readers jumped in to let her know that the Coyote was looking to eat the little dog {and maybe her}.  I suggested she put out a humane trap.  Then, she could dump it off on the neighboring County Courthouse lawn.  .  .  late at night.   I have a cousin who use to catch squirrels in his back yard.  He would turn them loose on the Courthouse lawn.  He says this is true.  Not in Texas -  Nebraska, I believe.

-----One final thing.  My wife has certain problems.  She is not really secure walking.  Her memory is  not working properly.  The other night, I got up to take care of certain business.  As I walked around the foot of the bed, there she was sitting on the floor.  I asked the obvious, "What are you doing down there?" She explained how she slid off the edge of the bed as she was getting up.  Out bed is really too tall.  I knew better.  I helped her up.  No harm done.  She said I was sleeping so good, she didn't want to wake me.  

The next day - Amazon - I ordered a Step 2 bed thingy.  It is a 3 ft long step with handles that fits securely beside the bed.  Adjustable height.  We found that 3" from the floor was the best.  The Step 2 comes with a motion activated LED light that lights up half the house. This is a good thing. Consider it if you have the same problem.  Hopefully, our problem is solved.  The light is pretty bright.

More later.  I have a list of many subjects including Destination Weddings, the Dull Men's Club website, certain Facebook complaints, DQ, TV, real time police shows on TV, eating lemons, bassoons, HEB store,  Lipton instant diet tea, what's for supper .... ah, the list never ends.

lov ya,  mtz           

63 yrs

 Tomorrow is our anniversary.  My wife & I were married on a Saturday, August 5, 1962.  The wedding was held at the First Baptist Church chapel of Levelland, Texas, with the First Methodist Church preacher doing the officiating.

It was 63 years ago.  We had a honeymoon destination of the Grand Canyon.  Later, I may give details of all of this.  Not tonight.  Too busy watching TV.

Later,

M

email from 2013 - memory for me

Quick explanation:  My brother Jim died a few years ago.  Lung Cancer.  Smoker for many years; quit about 15 years before he died.  His wife was having major heart problems - eventually, she had a transplant.  She is gone now too.  We all have people who can annoy us.  She had that ability; but, I tried to never let on.  I miss my brother and in conjunction, maybe his wife too.

In the evening Jim & I would play poker online.  It was an app where you played against several other people - no cost  - no investments - no money changed hands - just time consumed.

So I played as Pfl Rag  (Pfl for Pflugerville and Rag for my past experiences)

As we played, he & I would keep a running commentary to each other by messaging.  I don't think anyone ever noticed.  Yes, if one of us got a full  house, the other one usually dropped out.  But, generally, we didn't try to manipulate the game.

It was November 19, 2013, a Tuesday.    We closed out of the poker game one night.  I sent him the following message - to which he replied:

Pfl Rag [11:32 P.M.]:  quick stone - don't leave

"Jim Metze" [11:33 P.M.]:  ok

Pfl Rag [11:33 P.M.]:  cheeeee

Pfl Rag [11:33 P.M.]:  Cops is on tv - I had sound on, wasn't watching closely

Pfl Rag [11:34 P.M.]:  they had a car chase - the bad guys hit a pole - the cop jumped out with 

his gun & ran to the car yelling, "Let me see your hands!"

Pfl Rag [11:34 P.M.]:  His siren was still going and going and going.

"Jim Metze" [11:34 P.M.]:  yeah, drives me crazy

Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  just as I said, "bet there is a jack...."    - Bruno let out a howl in the other room - Bruno can howl with the best of them.  All 5 dogs of mine  joined in - this house was rocking
Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  I ran in and couldn't stop them at all

"Jim Metze" [11:35 P.M.]:  howling at the siren
Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  yes
"Jim Metze" [11:35 P.M.]:  mine go crazy when there is a police dog barking

Pfl Rag [11:35 P.M.]:  i hit the TV mute on the way in there

Pfl Rag [11:36 P.M.]:  i have never had them go that crazy over a tv sound - it was sweet Bruno 

that got them started - I recognize his howl.

Pfl Rag [11:36 P.M.]:  that's it - bet my wife is really awake now

"Jim Metze" [11:36 P.M.]:  never heard dogs barking on tv?

Pfl Rag [11:37 P.M.]:  they have - but one of them has to get them going - Bruno was asleep in 

the other room - it must have awaken him rudely

"Jim Metze" [11:37 P.M.]:  must have
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  think i will take them outside for their nightly wetting - 
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  see ya after choir tomorrow

"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  gotta get my wife's dirty dishes -- btw, u are supposed to say u feel sorry for her everyday

"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  ok c u tomorrow

Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  right, night
"Jim Metze" [11:38 P.M.]:  gn
Pfl Rag [11:38 P.M.]:  n

================================

That's it.  Y'know when you lose a brother you get emotional about things when you bump into them 15 years later.  Those were pretty good times.

over and out

m   

P.S.  Little sidebar here:   We were living out at the lake near Corsicana in 2013.  I had a 6 ft high,  20 sq ft fence enclosure built outside the garage back door.  The garage door had a doggy door.  When we would leave the house, I'd leave the dogs out there while we were gone...kept them enclosed so to speak.  At dark, I wouldn't let them go out alone - predators like bobcats, etc.   Plus we had snakes.  Lots of snakes.  I tried to keep them from getting in trouble in the dark.  Y'Know, if they saw a rabbit or squirrel or a "whatever,"   KATIE BAR THE DOOR!!!!  They were off into the dark.  My smallest dog, Greta - 10 lbs or so, was a snake killer.  I have a blog on that somewhere.  She didn't care what size the snake was - Kill!!!  So at nighttime, we all went out together to the enclosure for our nightly wetting.  It was a process.

-----------------------------------

I close now, Amazon is at the front door.

-----------------------------------

No wait again:

A posting from my first ever blog post in 2010.  this is the first paragraph:

several things to report:
#1   Local newspaper has an advertisement from the Corley Funeral Home. Now this place runs an adv. every day in the local paper. Always, they include a photo of a dog from the pound. "Come adopt this dog." Today's dog was named: MORTICIA.
Now, I think that's funny.

 THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT.   I posted this on Facebook.  I wanted to see if I could move Facebook stuff to here - apparently I can.  Apologies to those who read this earlier on Facebook.  

I had several responses to the post - many were quite cute and/or informative.  That's it.  See ya.

M

Mike Metze

12h ·

Shared with Public

Well, I just reported a Facebook message - my very first report. It hurt me deeply ( or is that deaply?) to report my fellow man - but, wait, what IF... what IF... It seems he works in a bank in Canada. That's nice that he has found work. One of their clients Samuel Metz has died. His wife Elizabeth had previously died. They have no children or relatives. I believe they call that intestate or it may be intraesrestate. I don't know. Do I look like a lawyer? Anyhow, this Samuel left behind $1,900,000. Oooo Oooo. So this banker has arranged for me - THAT'S MEEEE - to receive most of the money. Only the bank president & this bubba knows about it. I'm so excited. I just have to give them a small finder's fee .... need I explain more? Read my 1st sentence again. I could have been rich. The preceding was a public service message. As a closer let me say: "How's your mom and them?" You may visit my blog. MIKEMETZE.COM I visit there myself on occasion.

My Ratter

We have a garden.  Do you?  It produces typical garden fare.  It is overgrown.  It gets to a point that it seems scary to walk through. Watermelons  and Cantaloupe spring  up all over the garden.  Of course once you see a melon growing - you leave it alone.  Not to rag too much on my daughter, my co-gardener person, if she sees a flower, she thinks BEE.  Let the Bee food alone.  I could continue on this, but shan't.  But, the garden is overgrown.

We have mice / rats / frogs in the garden.  And snakes come to the garden to catch a delicious meal.

-----------

New thought.  I have a wire-hair dachshund.  She is a hunter - many might consider her to be a RATTER.  Twice in the past 2-3 months my little Sadie has brought her rat catch into the house and placed it on her pillow by the front door.  Twice.  She hunts every chance she gets - into the garden wilderness.  Another of our dogs, Anna, caught a rabbit.  That was sad.

Another new thought.  On Amazon I found a rat trap.  You set it.  The mouse/rat enters from the hole on the side & whap!!!  it snaps shut;  dead rat.  Fast and sure.  It made me sad once when a nice frog was whapped!!!  Sad.

--------

I try to sleep through the entire night.  Try is the word.  As you age, you will discover that you beat a path to the bathroom at night - more than once.  I can remember coming home in college - going to bed at 10 - my father demanded all to be in bed at 10   - I would wake up around noon.  At no time did I wake and beat a path down the hall.  

This is not the case as you age.  You want to locate your bed as close to the bathroom door as you can.  Trust me.

Last night about 4:30 or so, I awoke.  Slowly I rolled outta bed.  Yes, I have a small flashlight that I use to light my way in and out of the sanctuary.  As I stumbled back to bed, I saw that little Sadie was sound asleep on her nighttime cushion beside my side of the bed.  I softly spoke to her and scratched an ear.  My foot hit something hard.  Turning the flashlight downward, there was the rat trap resting securely on the dog bed - itza big bed.  I picked up the trap gingerly; and, I saw that it had been WHAPPED!!!  Peering with the flashlight inside the hole - dead rat - really dead.

The rat had been killed sometime during the night.  Sadie had made a tour of the garden sometime between midnight and 4:30.  When she found the dead rat inside the trap, she carried the trap through the dog door and placed it beside my bed - I suppose as a present for me.  

Thank you, Sadie.

m 

 

T.V. show choice

 This is gonna be a quickie.

I watch TV.  I'm sure most folks do too.  What are your favorite shows?  Lemme tell you that I do NOT watch much that is on regular TV:   ABC, CBS, NBC.  I just don't like the shows.  Example:

You start watching a dramatic series.  The plot might be okay.  But, all of a sudden you have to spend 5 or 10 minutes watching the heroes suck face.  They can't seem to just have a show with a plot - there has to be hanky panky.  Whoops, and there they are making out in bed or a corridor or the back seat of police cruiser.  I just get so tired.

Then, each episode has an obligatory rest room scene.  Couple of choices here.  Two guys go in and talk while they unload.  Chee.  Or the guy hero gets mad and follows the female into the restroom - that idea can go either way - girl goes into boys room.

Have you noticed that all shows have at least one guy who loves other guys.  They have a word for this.  Or, goodness sakes, we have to endure two females sucking face.  I can't stand it.  Why can't we just have a good ole story with a plot, development, and solution.  Look at an old John Wayne movie.  None of this major make out stuff.  I just get so bored.

And the musical talent shows.  Just not for me.  The girls all seem to think yelling a high note makes it all better.  The ones with other physical talent - these are acts we use to see at the circus or on regular entertainment shows.  Oh, and of course, if you can have a little kid to dance or sing in the middle of a group of 20 others, life is so good.  Just not for me.   I haven't even talked about the excited audience or the "brilliant" judges who know so much more than me.  Moving on.

But, that is not why I am writing.  

I have started watching the police shows - real live policemen doing what they do.  There is the JAIL shows.  There ARE the half hour COPS - COPS REVISITED whatever show - Plus on Friday/Saturday night you have the ONLINE show - LIVE POLICE WORK  lasts 3 hours with an extra hour show before the main event.  And, I haven't even mentioned the police shows where they solve a murder followed by the lawyers battling it out - followed by a 5 minute thing where the victims families all get together to praise the murdered person and to release a bundle of balloons.  It doesn't matter if he/she was killed while selling drugs to minors.  We still praise the person.

I have started watching a bunch of these.  What is great is:  not suck face or making out.  Crazy people for sure. Police methods galore.  I've learned:  if you get pulled over, shut up.  Don't argue.  Don't be too nervous. .  .   .  I don't, but if YOU smoke funny weed in your car, leave the windows down.  Breath mints.  Oh, and SHUT UP.  Answer the questions.  If he says smile, then SMILE.  If he says get out of the car, GET OUTTA CAR.  Driving without a license - open liquor container - small packages with white substances - all that stuff.  It can wait till you get home.  Don't give rides to loud mouth people.  They will get you put in jail.  The police have a dog?  Don't move.  Shut up.  Watch just a couple of the shows; you will learn a few valuable lessons.

But, that is only related to why I am writing.

I watched a Jail show - Jail somewhere in Texas - The skinny kid was arrested and put in Jail   Don't know what he did.  Don't really care.  Eventually he is put on a long cement bench next to a phone and told he could make a call.  Cops left.  He picked up the phone and made his call.  Question:  who did he call?  Wife, girl friend, mom or dad, brother, best friend, guess.  

He called 911.  Of course the jailers were informed by 911.  They went into the phone room - in force - and read the guy the riot act.  What did he say?  "I didn't call 911." More riot act.  Finally, he was told to make his call but DON'T CALL 911.  He said, "I won't call 911.  I didn't do that!"  The jailers left.  He made his 2nd phone call.   C'mon now.  You surely see where this is going.  Who did he call with the 2nd call?  Who?

HE CALLED 911 AGAIN!!!!

Of course he did.  The show ended before I could see him drawn and quartered.

Luv ya, mtz

politics

 I would be amiss if I didn't say that Trump seems to have pulled this off.  I like what he has done.

Pardon me for rambling

 Here I go again.

Yesterday, I weed ate part of the yard.  Several people in our HOA get upset if the grass in your yard grows over the curb towards the street.  It's been about 2 months since I used the eater on the curb.  It was time.  

I have a couple of weed eaters:  a smaller battery powered that I bought for my wife to use a few years ago when she liked and could go outside and work in the yard ---  a gas powered honkin' machine.  The smaller one is hand held and for short people.  It will cut little stuff.   The gas one will cut most anything.  It hangs from a strap from your shoulder.

The little one wears me out since I must bend over to reach the grass (I am not tall, only 5'9").  The big one wears me out since it is heavy .  Not much more to recite here.  I had a young couple borrow the big one to do a special job.  When they returned it, they had named it "The Terminator."

Today I am resting.  My knees - thighs are tired.  My right forearm has a muscle pain.  Still the job is over.  Next will be the back yard.  That is a killer.  Did I mention that I had to blow off the street because these same HOA folks don't like to see grass in the street.  I say, "Get a life."  Grass in the street?    Makes me tired to think of it.

------

It was reported this week that Alaska has had a heat advisory listed for this week.  Alaska - Heat Advisory.  This was reported as the first Heat Advisory issued for that State.  Woe is me.  Woe is me.   Wait.  The rest of the story.  It seems they are changing the terminology.  It is not new.  They use to call it something else.  Now, it is called a heat advisory.  Cheeee.  As a P.S.   Fairbanks is looking at temperatures of 85 degrees.  Move on.

------

A Texas Ranger rookie pitcher, Kumar Rocker, was doing a great job - 5 scoreless innings.  He started cramping up.  There was a conference on the mound.  Then, the first baseman ran to the dugout and got TWO bottles of pickle juice for the pitcher who drank them both down immediately.  Pickle Juice.  I didn't know that.  After another pitch or two, a ball boy ran another bottle out to the pitcher.  That is 3 bottles of pickle juice.  They figured he had set a world's record - 3 bottles of pickle juice while still on the mound.

After I read this, I noted that my leg was hurting.  I got a SMALL glass and poured about 3 fingers of pickle juice.  Wheweeee.  That will set you free.  Give it a try.  It must be good for you.  Surely.

-------

My daughter gave me a Dad's Joke 3000 for Father's Day.  You press the button and it recites a corny joke; yes, a Dad's Joke if you will.  Here is the last joke we heard:                   How do you make a Tissue dance?

You give it a little Boogie.

-------

There was a newspaper feature today about the Sculptor galaxy.  Y'know.  A bunch of stars huddled together.  We live in the Milky Way Galaxy.   Facts presented go way over my head.  I have trouble comprehending all of this.  Example:  a light year is about 5.8 trillion miles...the distance a beam of light travels in a year.  5.8 trillion miles.  That's a lot farther than going to the grocery store and back.  Still this Sculptor Galaxy is  - ready? - 11 million light-years from here.  Do the math.  If I did it right, that is 63,800,000 miles away.  I may have messed up that number.  But, can you wrap your head around that number?  That's more than my salary as a teacher.

So you bundle up your family and head for that galaxy.  A couple weeks go by.  Now, you have arrived.  This galaxy is 65,000 light years across - from one end to the other.    Do you go straight?  Turn Left?  Make a right?  All those stars.  We have 9 planets (I still like Pluto).  all those stars.  If each star has 9 planets...  Frankly I cannot imagine numbers like this.  Think I will just sit here - look out the window - and watch my neighbor mow his yard.  That I can comprehend.

mtz

I am in the hospital -?

 So it is Wednesday.

Past Friday about 2 - 3 pm my stomach was hurting.  Okay, there is this "TMI" thing - Too Much Information. My entire report here is TMI.  Back to Friday.  My brain said, "Go the bathroom, stupid." So I did.  In my house we call  this a Good Job.  I did a Good Job - perhaps, you might say a GOOD job.  Over.  Decided to run down for the mail.  Run Down means get in the car and drive to the mailbox.  I don't run noplace - spell check says that noplace is not a word.  They're wrong.

Before I got out the door, I returned to the Throne for another urgency.  I did a Good Job.  I got the mail. Upon my return, it became evident I should schedule another session in the water closet.  In the next hour, sessions 4 &5.  I was not delivering the product by this time (only liquid); but, wait, the stomach was still hurting.  That made no sense - not to me anyway - again, remember I was trained in a music school.  Bowel Education was never in my resume.

I sat in my "big Daddy" chair and did a little moaning.  Moaning is a well-earned trait of the elderly; yes, you learn to moan as you age.  My daughter walks through after a bit. I told her that I was in no mood to help get supper - fix what she wants and feed the Grammy, Wife, Mother - whatever title you prefer.  She did; and, the nagging began.  I gots a thermometer stuck under my tongue (started to say "stuck between the cheeks."  I had a fear someone would think we we using a different kind of thermometer.  We're not.  We use the mouth thermometer.)  I was in the upper 98(s) point something.   A while later I topped the 99 mark.

Christine thundered, "We're going to the ER."

"Fine.  My cost is ONLY $65 to go."  My tummy was hurting all across the front an left side below the belly button.  Christine talked to my big-time nurse, daughter-in-law, Penney, on the phone.  We eliminated Appendicitis.  We were urged to go.

My chosen emergency room is the Baylor Scott & White hospital of Temple.  I've had a couple of experiences with them that were not pure.  I think it is a fine hospital.  They seemed to have taken care of my prostate cancer properly with minimal discomfort.  Their ER.  You walk in this door and veer to the right through 2 machines looking for sub-machine guns and machetes.  They have a nice lady greeting you and a policeman in full gear watching over all.

I was sent to a window the wife/daughter were given badges.  Yes, you need stinking badges.  Registration and payment over, we sat.  We're in the big room with a bunch of sick people.  Why izzat? My name was called, and we were escorted to Triage room 13. Much was said; much was nurse tested; much was left undecided. Whisked me off for a CAT scan.  Whisked me off for an EKG.  Whisked me off for an Xray - that one didn't happen.  Whisked back to R13.  I have been in this room before.  You look up at the ceiling and in the florescent light is a big black dead cockroach.  I pointed it out.  Betcha it will still be there upon my return someday.

Back to waiting room.  Back to 13.  Met doctor.  I have a problem with my lower left bowel - Took a while to learn Colitis in the bowel .  They explained it to me in 4th grade terms.  For that I was thankful. No sense getting too smart.  I was moved into a permanent room down on the bottom floor and given drugs.  It was decided that wife\dot would go home.  Mum needs the rest.  

Somewhere in the 11 o'clock time slot, I was informed that a room was waiting in the TCU...transitional care unit, room 20.  Nice people up there. 2nd floor.  Still in my street clothes, rejecting the hospital gown offered, I lay there freezing.  I finally got a blanket.  Threw my coat over me.  4 hours later I was offered a heated blanket.  YES!!  The nurse guy adjust the thermostat up to 76 for me.  Nicer. I spent Saturday in the TCU.  Think on this.  Transitional means?  I'm going from one place to another.  What is that other place?   New room?  Heaven? Hell?  Downtown Chicago?  The family visited me in my transition.  Dot Laura/Hub Tom arrived and visited.  All left. This is Friday. 

Did I mention that I am on a liquid diet.  Lots of sugar/carbs in a liquid diet.  Also, no substance.  My blood sugar started up.  They shot me with insulin.  Then, they would feed me with more high sugar/carbs liquids.  Go figure.  Guess they get a discount on water and insulin.

Give or take 11 pm.  We're off to a new room on the 5th floor.  They had a 3 letter name for that floor too.  But it was more permanent.  Sunday arrives.  Family returns.  Nurses come and go.  Drugs and insulin given.  More liquid for breakfast.  Have you ever tried to eat Cream of Wheat?  I just couldn't finish it.  Doctor visits.  It is generally thought that my side is getting better & I would probably go home on Monday.  it is now Sunday.  I can live with that.  Doctor called and got me solid food - a cheeseburger to begin.  Nighttime was bbq brisket.  Not bad.  So it is about 4 - 5 o'clock, Sunday.  

This is the reason for the whole blog:

In walks this nurse-type.  Very pleasant young lady.  I've had nothing but fabulous, helpful people helping me this whole outing.  My side still hurts a bit. The lady starts talking and explains a new Medicare program.  I am on Medicare, pay for it every month.   Get this.  The program sends me home.  BSW nurses come see me 3 to 4 plus times a day at home.  They administer all medicine. 

Once a day I talk to a doctor via computer with the nurse standing there.  They provide all the drugs, iPad, nurses, and IF I DESIRE they bring me my meals.   According to Medicare, I am still in the hospital.  I cannot leave the house without approval.  I just lay there at home watching TV and welcoming nurses into the house.  Oh, for me to get back home:  I must be transported in a BS&W ambulance.  Medicare says I am still in the hospital.

All of this costs nothing.  I've already paid my hospital bill - via required Medicare rules.  If it goes on for a day - a week - a month, whatever, no extra costs. Presents:   I am given a blood pressure thing, one of those finger oxygen measuring things, a thermometer, a new blood sugar measuring device, etc.  And some little stuff of no consequence.  It seems the program is for sick people who are not badly sick.

I sign up.  Sunday, about 10 pm, I say goodbye to the hospital staff and am "Whisked" away in the back of an ambulance.  Looking backwards out the back of an ambulance is a bit of a different experience.  We arrive at the house & I am pushed to the door in my ambulance bed.  I climb out and go into the house.  It is about 10:15 or so.  A Nurse follows me in for my set-up and indoctrination visit - plus more drugs.

I won't go through all the nurses visits and the nurse personalities.  You couldn't find nicer folks.  I got my drugs, insulin, watched TV, and ate my own food.  The TV doctor was helpful.  I made him laugh once.  Tuesday morning arrive.  The doctor discharged me "from the hospital."  I was left my drugs - not quite, but for this report, yes.  Now it is Wednesday.  My pills are being used.  I'm on my way to recovery.

I will refrain from explaining my problems over the past 4 days with having a bowel movement - sometimes called a BM.  Actually, I have a Bachelor of Music (BM) on my resume.  Maybe I will explain that in the next.

If you lasted for this whole thing, bless you.  I write these so that maybe someday I will have a great grandchild who wants to learn my personality.  He/She will read these and know me a bit better.  We will see.

Y'all take care.  Getting old has its downfalls.   Now I will groan for the sympathy.

One thing for sure.  I have a good family to usher me through all this.

mtz

Mother's Day plus potpourri

Here's the thing. A couple of weeks ago, on a Monday, I started this missive about Mum's Day.  I dood have da best intentions.  So, here it is a 2ND Saturday, still not completed.  I am sure you are all feeling embarrassed for me.  Someone should.  It is the nice thing to do.  We move on.

---------------------------------------

Yesterday - Mother's Day

What more can be said?  Mom's Day - Mum's - Mudder - Is this a USA only thing?  Never gonna research that question.  Our local mom had a pretty good day...I think.  Took her out to eat on Saturday to avoid the typical Mom's Day standing room only crowds.    That worked pretty well.  Then, on Sunday I looked at the wife and asked, "Would you like to go get an ice cream at DQ?"  I believe her eyes lit up and a smile crossed her face.

the daughter was working.  I texted her to meet us when she gets off work & I'd buy burgers all around.  That is how we ended up at the Dairy Queen in Jarrell.  It was a lovely time had by all.  DQ made a mistake and put an extra patty on the wife's burger.  She was unable to finish the burger - too much food. A Snicker Blizzard was ordered...(small size of course).  She was able to finish the Blizzard.  It seems that ice cream does not fill up your stomach.  Eat all you want.

Her best present from me was a new straw purse with multi colors - Walmart.  I do go all out.

----------------

now for some potpourri ( prefer to say Pot Pouring)  These are quickies that I have catalogued in my little notebook.  Can't say any of this will make the Universe better.  

Today - Sat. 24 - 2 days before Memorial Day:  We drove to Waco (takes an hour) & met my youngest dot & hubby for lunch at Rosa's.  It was a good day.  I overate.   Bought gas for $2.37 at Walmart in Waco.  The day was presented as a late-Mother's Day (with gifts).  Nice day.  Nice drive.  Traffic wasn't too bad going either way which is remarkable for I-35 ... sometimes called the most dangerous highway in America.  Probably those who travel hwy #1  or I-95 might disagree.

I do overeat at Rosa's.  They tell me that Ozempic helps you lose weight by making you feel full.  I don't know.  I do know that it doesn't do that for me.  Diabetics take Ozempic - lose weight.  Not me. Nope.  The prostate cancer shot I take makes some people gain weight.  I fit in here somewhere.  Yes, Prostate cancer shot.  It is generally the same one they say Biden will probably get.  My cancer didn't go into the bones so far - it was caught earlier they say.  I just do what they say.  I am one of those that believe that Biden has had prostate cancer all the time he was President.  There is something wrong her.

The line that I hear most:  Most old guys die "with" prostate cancer - they don't die "OF" it, just "WITH" it.  Interesting concept...playing with words.

---------------

Dot #1 had to travel to Fredericksburg on Friday for work.  Her hospital group was doing an inspection of a Fredericksburg hospital.  She said it was a well-run hospital.  Naturally, since it is that time of year, she bought home a couple boxes of peaches.  These are the CLING peaches.  Not my favorite because you have to work harder to eat it.  Anyway, today, she peeled same and made a Peach Crisp - see google for a recipe.  Good tasting.  Way too much sugar for me; so, I cheated on my sugar.  But, Good!

------

Google.  Young folks don't understand how google changed information collecting.  I read up today on the Wienermobile- a vehicle sponsored by Oscar Meyer wieners.  They have 6 of them.  It was on the news today.  Yesterday, the 6 lined up at the Indianapolis 500 raceway and - - yes, raced.  The AP news report in the paper was cute.  There is no byline listed so I can't give him credit.  Some of the one-liners from the paper - thinking hot dogs now, not dachshunds who I dearly love - 

The winner was from the Southeast "He proved to be the big dog" in the race.  The winning "margin was about a half a bun."   It was a "wiener-take-all race."   The No. 3 dog "managed to roast the rest of the Wienermobiles..."  Their top speed was about 65 mph. And, "they were right in each other's grills down the backstretch..."  No. 4 dog was leading the race when smoke began to pour from its rear, "and that dog was cooked."  The eventual winner broke out on the last rap "just in time to relish in the sweet taste of victory." This was an event to "kick off a summer of wieners."

I loved that story.  Look it up on Google.  The Wienermobiles travel all over the States.  You can actually rent one for a party.  Look it up for more spine tingling news.  The driver make $38,000+ a year to drive.  All sorts of info.  Over and out.

May the Franks be with you

mtz

  

flaw in my plan

 I keep a small notebook in which I write ideas for blog topics.  

Today I read my last night's entry (I awoke in the middle of the night and penned it).

The entry:   "I've Got One.  Do You?"

I have not the slightest idea what this is suppose to mean.  No clue.  Maybe it will come to me in a dream tonight.  Don't wait up to see.

----

Since I'm here ... I made a mistake the other night and watched a show on PBS I think.  It has to be a local show in which they show a scary movie.  The hosts talk and talk and talk.  Someone has a different idea of humor than I.  

The best part is they showed an episode from a Flash Gordon serial from the late 40s or 50s.  Buster Crabbe plays Flash Gordon.  It is such a rotten show.  But, still, I enjoyed reliving the Flash Gordon serial.    We didn't get the Flash Gordon show out of the Lubbock TV stations.  Instead, once or twice a year my family would visit relatives in the OK city area (Edmond, etc.).  Flash Gordon played on their TV stations.  OK City TV stations had better programming than Lubbock's 2 stations - in my opinion.  And, to close, yes, Flash Gordon was terrible even back then.

over and out

Dr. Zarkov

MAY DAY

May 1st.

I don't know why May 1st is important to certain groups.  I seem to remember that USSR does a big May Day parade - showing all their weapons.  Why?

Some of you may not know this:  some communities celebrate May Day as a festival here in the USA.  

Okay, take in consideration that I am 84 yrs old.  

When I was in the 4th grade we moved to Crete, Nebraska.  Crete is just a few miles from Lincoln.  My father worked for Standard Oil of Indiana.  He ran a truck for the oil exploration in that part of Nebraska.  The wildcatters or whatever they were called, would drill a hole in the ground.  He would lower a listening device down the hole.  Dynamite would be set off somewhere and he would create a map of where oil might be under the ground.  He was a logger - not one who cuts down trees - but he would "log" what they were doing.

Because of this job, after WWII we traveled to several towns in Kansas and finally,  Crete.  From Kindergarten through the 5th grade, I spent only one year at any school.  We found a permanent home when I hit the 6th grade, Levelland, Texas - home of the Lobos  (some might spell it Loboes, but they would be wrong - we Lobos know how to spell).  

So there we were in Crete Nebraska for the whole year.  I can remember a few things clearly about  that 4th grade year.  Here they are:

1.  I was in the Crete H.S. band in the 4th grade.  The band room was located on the 2nd floor.  I had to climb a fire-type escape to get into the room.  I cannot remember any music that we played other than the Concert Bb scale.

 

Skip over this part if it is too complicated.  I played the cornet.  it is a Bb cornet.  When you play the Concert Bb scale, a cornet player plays the C scale - an alto sax plays the G scale - Trombones, flutes, bells, tubas etc. play the Bb scale...and so forth.  In my first day of band - remember that I am only 9 years old   - the director told us to play the Concert Bb scale.  And I did - I played the Bb scale.  That makes me one note off the entire time - ugly.  Finally, some big kid sitting next to me explained what I should play.  Understand, it is remarkable that a 9 year old can play the C scale - but, I also knew the Bb scale.  We move on.

 

2. In October of that year, my father bundled us all up for a drive to Lincoln.  President Truman was running for office.  He came in on a train - standing on the platform of the back car - we heard his speech.  I actually heard President Truman make a speech.  Who else do you know who can say that?  2 more things happened that day:  As we walked to the train station, police (secret service) stopped my brother Marshall - he'd of been about 13 or 14 yrs old.  They made him take his little brownie box camera back to the car.  they were afraid he might kill Truman somehow.  So we have no photos of that day.  None.

The second thing was that it started to rain as we drove home.  It rained so hard that places were flooding.  We live at the top of a hill.  My father had to pull over and stop.  WE walked to the top of that hill in the rain because it was too dangerous for him to drive up the road.  Really.  We had a 1948 black Hudson.  Fine car.  I believe people died in that Truman flood.

Another memory:  It snows in Nebraska.  There were piles of snow everywhere.  My parents, in their wisdom  bought us shoes that had ridges on the soles.  Several years later these were called Waffle Stompers ... where you stomped, it looked like a waffle.  At school recess, a big thing to do was to climb up a snow slope and slide down  on your feet.  The other boys wouldn't let me because my stompers cut ridges in the slope.  I was deprived.

In the spring, brother Jim & I walked to a playground and played baseball with the others.  I had really never played baseball too much - still haven't - but I had a glove.  They put me in the outfield with the other inept players.  My lesson learned:  someone hit a ground ball straight at me.  I put the glove down for the ball to enter.  Instead the ball hit the glove and rolled right up my arm and slugged me in the nose - one of first nosebleeds.  Since, I learn to use my free hand on the back of the glove to stop the ball.  Blood doesn't look good on leather.

FINALLY (you say), In April, the teachers began to take us outside to practice.  They had this pole with cloth ribbons handing down.  A student took a ribbon and walked in a a circle around the pole. Half of the students went clockwise, the other half went counterclockwise..  As you met a student, you went to the left of the student - then to the right of the next one - to the left of the next - etc.  This wound the cloth around the pole in a most pretty way.   Around you went until it was completely covered.

And, finally again, May 1st arrive.  Everyone turned out.  The children dressed in Dutch costumes with wooden shoes.  I even had a Dutch costume.  As the day went by we partied and did the May Pole event.  Never in my life have I seen this done since.  Maybe it is just Crete.  Maybe it is Nebraska.  I don't know.  

Now you know why I enjoy May 1st without the USSR parades.  The May Pole was a happening.  I wonder if it is still done today?

see ya,

Mtz

p.s.  I'm not going to proofread this.  Anything wrong?  Fix it.

Google analytics

Okay - stay with me here.  I was looking at my blog and it starts giving me an  "More on Google analytics"  bit.  Now, I can't say I know what they are talking about.  But, below is a chart they gave me with   ABSOLUTE NUMBERS.  I'm guessing these are views of this here bluggy.  I don't know -  since the inception some 10-15 years ago?  Or is it only the last 12 months.  Whatever - look at the top numbers.  Does this mean I have made friends in China?  Or is it just the old communist trolling for info in order to make me more poor than I am.

As I  have said on more than one occasion, retired school teachers are not flush.  We know how to flush (move the little handle down - flush).  I've known how to flush for years.  There is not much of a learning curve there.

So look at the numbers       - perhaps you have an opinion?  if the chart doesn't show up - put your curser in middle of the line and do some backspaces.  I think it will all show up.

The important thing is  I show   USA  at 393,  China at 190, Singapore at 35, and Hong Kong at 19.

moving on>  mtz

United States      393

China            190

Singapore        35

Hong Kong        19

Germany        14

Netherlands        6

United Kingdom        5

Belgium        4

Indonesia        3

Australia        2

Canada        3

France            2  all the rest are 2 or 1

South Korea

Bangladesh

Brazil

Ireland

Japan

Mexico

Palestine

Other