Health Concerns Again

I know that I have mentioned this before, but I know it has been a while ago.  Recent events make this a concern again.  Back when I had surgery for cancer I started to have CAT Scans.  In those scans it was discovered that I have an Aortic Aneurysm in my abdomen.  It is midway down and when it was discovered it was significant, but apparently not a surgical concern.  In the almost 7 years since that original CAT scan the Aneurysm has grown.  The growth has been slow, but the size is now at the verge of being a surgical concern.  The surgery is usually successful, but it is surgery and it IS major. 

Later this month I will be seeing a thoracic vascular surgeon and I will learn more.  Life is so strange.  You deal with one thing and there is always another thing. I'll post when I know anything new.

The long missing

I have been missing for some time.  I looked at my last post and said to myself, "WTF!"  I must have been in some serious state of mind!  That is past as are many other things.  Let's catch up.  Christmas was quite difficult, mainly because I was sick the whole season.  Yes, the whole time.  I caught a respiratory bug and I was literally sick from Christmas Eve Day until New Years Day.  That whole time is pretty much a lost blur for me.   I didn't do anything much for that whole time.  I am fully recovered now, thank God.

The weather has been just beastly!  We have had lots of snow, so much that there are piles at corners that are hard to see around.  We have also had wind and cold.  Just recently we have been having ice on top of it all.  Buildings in Connecticut with weak structure or flat roofs have been collapsing.  Driving has been a nightmare.  And I have been SAD (more appropriately affected by SAD [seasonal affect disorder].)  I have cabin fever.  I have also had a string of Sunday Church Jobs.  There are a bunch of Church openings nearby so fill-in Priests are required.  I mostly work Sundays during the Summer during Clergy Vacations so this is special.  I have been having a blast. 

I am now beginning to think about a visit to Arizona to see my family out there.  I need to plan the time and flight, etc.  This should get me through the rest of the winter.

This is Birthday month.  My Birthday was yesterday.  My oldest Son's Birthday is next week and my granddaughter's 5th birthday is later this month.  Additionally, I have friends with February birthdays.  I kind of vegged yesterday.  I got phone calls from my family and lots of good wishes on Facebook.  There was also cake here last night.  All in all it was a good day.

I am going through a cycle of Medical visits.  So far everything has been good.  The Aortic Aneurysm has grown a bit (not alarmingly yet) but I need to consult a vascular surgeon for a plan for the future.  This is a treatable condition as long as the aneurysm doesn't rupture.  I also had a LAP-BAND "Fill".  The Doctor actually removed some of the restriction.  For the first time the doctor watched how the band was working with a fluoroscope.  It had been set too restrictive for quite some time.  I kind of knew this because I was throwing up a bit too much.  I feel much better now and I am actually able to eat meat again.  Denser foods like meat are better because they satisfy longer and I don't feel like snacking.

Sadly, our Dog, RJ died quite suddenly.  He went into my room and I believe had a heart attack.  We found him as he was dying and were able to sit with him as he died.  He was a good dog and loved us all.  I have been very upset about this.  We went and got a new dog about a week later.  I still miss RJ but Shiloh is a real sweet dog and her vigor and life have helped.

I have been trying to post a piece about RJ, but I get too emotional.  I will eventually gather my thoughts and some pictures and post them.

For now this is it. There is sun out right now and I am very happy about that  This morning the was ice all over and my day plans totally changed.  Keep warm and safe and stay well.

Love,
Shel

Ultimate despair

That's a dire title and maybe it's a bit over stated but I have a way of occasionally sinking into one of these moods.  I don't do this spontaneously but it is usually a combination of things.  Tonight it consists of the Christmas season, having no relationship, thinking about it and watching absolutely the wrong movie.  I have a real talent for choosing the wrong movie for the moment and I did it tonight.  I found myself on the verge of tears.  The movie wasn't sad it was just the wrong movie for how I was feeling.  I was sad or sad enough that the movie touched me in the wrong way.  I am now sitting here feeling like I need to break out in full tears.  Sigh!  This too will pass... I hope.

Peace and as always my Love,

Shel

OMG!

OMG!  I am sorry to have neglected this blog so long.  I could use the excuse that I was busy and I was, but I wasn't THAT busy.  The truth is that I have been working more at things that involve the computer and this means I use the computer less for recreation.  When I was working doing Computer Networking Training I seldom used the computer outside of work.  Today I am working a lot at photography and since the cameras are now digital I post process with the computer.  I am also doing some professional work on Blogs so this seems to take a back seat these days.  When I was recovering from Cancer and the after effects of Chemo this was one of my few outlets.

Let's catch up a bit.  My father turned 99 on Sept. 1st.  Can you imagine that?  He was born September 1, 1911 in Granite City, Illinois.  He was the youngest child and is the only survivor of his brothers and sisters.  His brother's wife, Aunt Naomi, died this past summer at the age of 102.  She was totally invalid, but my father lives on his own and still drives.  I visit him every other week and bring home cooked food for him.  This past visit I brought him home cooked split pea and ham soup.  I must say it was good!

I have been well, mostly.  This week the arthritis in my back has bothered a bit.  Speaking of arthritis, my knees are bothering me a lot these days.  I want to walk more, but it begins to hurt after a while.  I guess there are a few down-sides to growing older.  My granddaughter is thriving out in Arizona, along with her parents.  They are doing well and seem to be very happy.  I talk with them on Skype whenever I can.  My other two sons were caught up in the closing of the Shaw's Super Market chain in Connecticut.  They are still looking for jobs.  The economy stinks!

This is about enough for now.  I will try to be more faithful at blogging.  You all be well.

Love,
Shel

Paen to my Big Black Dog

Just about 13 years ago my ex partner and the kids and I brought home a little black Labrador puppy.  He was soon named Scout and joined our family.  He grew from a puppy to an adult and though a large dog he was always gentle and friendly.  He had a loud bark and terrified anyone who visited, but truth be known, he was harmless.  He had a great disposition.  He grew up with the boys (three of them) and was a friend not only to us (his people), but to the two Beagles and to the cats (there were many and various.)

Scout was enthusiastic and loving.  About six years ago I moved out of the house.  Scout stayed with my ex, but I still thought of him as my dog.  Whenever I visited he greeted me cheerfully, I was not forgotten.  As he aged he had developed gray hair so he was no longer all black.

Last week, Scout became unable to walk.  His rear legs became paralyzed.  My son and I took him to the Vet.  Apparently, it is common for large dogs to have spinal and hip degeneration in old age.  Scout could no longer be himself.  He couldn't go out and run as he once had loved to do. He couldn't control himself.  The decision was hard but Scout's final moments were with my son and I.

What can I say about a good dog other than I will miss him.  He was part of my family and I loved him.  I sure hope there is a doggie heaven and that Scout is with Lady and Max, the beagles who were his companions for so many years.   Goodby Scout!

Love,
Shel

PS:  This wasn't really a classical paen because it wasn't a song.  It was meant to be a tribute, and in that sense, I believe it is a paen.

Doing Something -Gulf Disaster Relief

Yesterday I took a large number of pictures of an event designed to help bring relief to the people of the Gulf coast who's lives have been so greatly affected by the Oil Disaster.  Yes, I call it a disaster!  Untold quantities of oil have been released in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That oil has to go somewhere!  It is currently going to the shore of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.  It is almost certain to affect a much greater area in the near future.  We will be dealing with the effects of this disaster for many years to come I am sure.

I group of people, musicians and others, have started a project to privately raise funds for Disaster Relief.  This project called "Give to the Gulf" had a press release event yesterday and that is the event I photographed. I will put up some of the photos on a separate page.  Look for the tab at the top of the page.  I will tempt you with one here.

This young singer named Jackson has contributed his talents and music to help in the Relief effort.  For the web site of Give to the Gulf go to http://www.givetothegulf.org. You can find some of Jackson's music there to download from itunes.  The small price you will pay will all go to relief efforts in Louisiana and the area with the help of the United Way of Louisiana.  Musicians can contribute their talents by adding their music to the music to be downloaded and there is a link on the site for that.

I am in New England which is far from the Gulf but I hope to do my little bit to help those effected by the great and terrible oil release in the Gulf.  Visit the site and download a tune or two. For a news report follow this link to NBC 30 News.

Another News Channel, WTNH in New Haven put up a video report.


Love,

Shel

Loose Some Weight (Give to the Gulf)

There is all kind of weight.  What I am feeling and have been feeling for a while is weight in my soul.  To understand a little about this weight follow this link.  I had to use a link because I don't have any of my own pictures to use and I didn't want to steal someone else's picture. It's a picture of an oil soaked Pelican from the Gulf Coast and the article speculates on whether it is better to save animals so stricken or to kill them.  Which would be more humane? The oil (can one really call this a spill?) disaster in the Gulf of Mexico just tears me apart.  I feel for he animals that are damaged and killed. I feel for the people whose lives and livelihoods have for ever been changed (maybe even destroyed.) It all weight very heavy on my soul.

I think the great weight comes from a real feeling of helplessness. I also feel rage!  It just seems that one stupid move follows another.  Money and technology seem to be useless.  Don't get me going on the way politicians are behaving!  Members of Congress apologizing to the Oil Company?  Get real! 

There is going to need to be a relief effort in the Gulf area and possibly in other areas (dare I mention the possibility of damage to the East Coast of the US and maybe damage as far away as the coasts of Europe?).  People's lives have been changed and there is going to be a continuing need for clean-up (can there ever be a real cleanup from something like this?)

Someone local here in Connecticut is trying to do something to help in the relief effort.  Some Musicians and others have mounted a effort to put their Music up on the Web for sale through itunes with the proceeds going totally to the Gulf Relief Effort.  This is a wonderful thing for these people to do! The effort is called "Give to the Gulf" and you can find their web site by following the link or going to www.givetothegulf.org.

Buying a few tunes from itunes can make a difference.  Music can sooth the soul and these pieces of music might just lighten your soul a bit.

Love,
Shel