POOL!

Isaiah on the ladder-
We ended up turning the hose on again anyway-
After that, his legs weren't long enough to climb in/out.
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Good Morning All...
Hot enough for you? Nasty yesterday- and 83% humidity.
(But it was 100% humid in the pool, and no one minded)! hehehe

I had forgotten one very important thing as I covered all aspects of this pool thing.
And that was my swim suit...
I have been faithfully bringing it along to these various hotels that Casey and I had stayed in; (just in case). But truth be known, I haven't even unpacked it in years.
Nor have I had it on...

Jenne and Isaiah were already out playing by the time I'd finished my own playing on my blog yesterday.

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Punk, having no pool of her own, was stuck on the inside.
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How pitiful is that?!?

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And it was time for me to face my swimsuit...
I took the little plastic bag out from the closet in the bathroom, and removed the suit. (It looked much smaller than what I'd remembered)...
But then it dawned on me that no one, save for my loved ones, would even see me in it. And I quickly disrobed. (Yargh)!

Grabbing this mere suit I cautiously put one leg in... Then another.
Then came time to yank it up...

...Much to my amazement, the darn thing fit perfectly!
There are no pictures. (You'll just have to take my word for it).

But there are plenty more pictures...

Jenne had to re~inflate the tube doughnut.
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Casey arrived...
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She got suited up quickly, and showed off her beach towel...
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Punk was allowed to come out...

And it was discovered that if you have a pull toy in the pool this dog puts it to very good use!
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Casey tried to drown Punk...
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Punk tried to drown herself...
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Oh this water is SO lovely!

But the sun was very harsh.
I even made the dog get out of the pool for a while to put her in the shade.

She was NOT a happy camper...

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Isaiah needed a drink of water, so we turned the hose on...
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And what fun to be had while the pool filled a bit more!
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He played so long in that little pool...
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And it was time for this little prunes nap...

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hehehe

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I hope you are all staying safe and cool somehow.
I have already turned the furnace on- NOT the heat, just the fan. If you have forced air heat, you can do the very same- With my house, it brings the cool air from the basement and other vents and redistributes it around the whole house. (Yes, I still have the window A/C on).

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

posted to my Y! 360, Wednesday June 24, 2009 - 08:11am (CDT)

Tips for beating the heat... ########### Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. ~~It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella. ########### Drink water, even if you're not thirsty. ~~Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. ########### Eat small meals more frequently. ~~Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat. ########### Slow down. ~~Avoid strenuous activity or do it during the coolest part of the day. ########### Stay indoors when possible. ~~If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. (Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air). ########### Be a good neighbor. ~~During heat waves, check on elderly residents and those who do not have air conditioning. ########### Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR so you know what to do in an emergency situation. — ~~American Red Cross

National HIV Testing Day 6/27/09

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/niaid-23.htm
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Contact: Laura Sivitz 301-402-1663

Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health on National HIV Testing Day, June 27, 2009

The importance of National HIV Testing Day becomes clear when one recognizes that an estimated one-fifth of all Americans infected with HIV do not know they are infected.[1] Among Americans who have been tested for the virus, more than one-third of those who learned they are infected became aware of their status less than a year before being diagnosed with AIDS — long after the optimal time to begin antiretroviral therapy.[2]

Not knowing one�s HIV status endangers one�s health and the health of one�s sexual partners. By getting tested for the virus and learning one�s HIV status soon after infection, treatment can begin early, substantially delaying the development of HIV-related illness and prolonging life.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, urges everyone ages 13 to 64 to get tested for HIV as part of their routine health care, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. People at high risk for HIV infection — such as injection drug users, gay and bisexual men, female partners of bisexual men, and people with multiple sexual partners — should get tested at least once a year.

Widespread, voluntary HIV testing and treatment for infected individuals could benefit both people with HIV and their communities. Studies have shown that most people who learn they are infected with HIV adjust their behavior to avoid transmitting the virus to others.[3] In addition, when HIV-infected people start antiretroviral therapy and take it consistently, the treatment reduces the amount of virus in their blood and other bodily fluids to very low levels. Not only does this protect their health, but it may also make them less infectious to others; a NIAID clinical trials network is in the process of testing this hypothesis.

This community-level benefit of HIV testing and treatment could assume greater importance in the future as scientists examine a compelling new model for HIV prevention. This mathematical model, developed by scientists at the World Health Organization, predicts that within 10 years of implementation, a program of universal, voluntary, annual HIV testing and immediate treatment for those who test positive could reduce new cases of HIV by as much as 95 percent.[4]The model further predicts that this strategy, called test and treat, could end the HIV pandemic within 50 years. However, the test and treat model contains many assumptions that need to be validated and raises issues that require broad public debate. NIAID has begun conducting research to validate some of these assumptions and address some of these issues.

Meanwhile, CDC has launched an important initiative, Act Against AIDS, designed to dramatically increase the number of Americans who get tested for HIV and who take action to protect their health and the health of their sexual partners. To learn more, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nineandahalfminutes/.

On this year�s National HIV Testing Day, let us remove any stigma and fear that surround HIV testing and recognize its lifesaving value. By doing so, we are taking a critical step in containing the terrible scourge of HIV, protecting our own health as well as the health of our communities. To find an HIV testing site near you, go to www.hivtest.org. For more information about HIV testing, go to http://www.aids.gov/testing/index.html.

Dr. Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
Media inquiries can be directed to the NIAID Office of Communications at 301-402-1663, niaidnews@niaid.nih.gov.

NIAID conducts and supports research — at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide — to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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Photo from here, http://www.cdc.gov/nineandahalfminutes/
along with the following info:

The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States Is REAL—Get the Facts!

Before we can stop any epidemic, we first have to recognize the magnitude of the disease. HIV is still a threat across the United States. And even though there are treatments to help people with HIV live longer than ever before, AIDS is still a significant health issue. Surprised? Get the facts:

* Every 9½ minutes (on average), someone in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
* In 2006, an estimated 56,300 people became infected with HIV.
* More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV.
* Of those 1 million people living with HIV, 1 out of 5 do not know they are infected. (People who have HIV but don't know it can unknowingly pass the virus to their partners.)
* Despite new therapies, people with HIV still develop AIDS.
* Over 1 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with AIDS.
* More than 14,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the United States.

Take control of your health. http://www.hivtest.org/ to find where to go.
You can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1800-232-4636) for assistance in locating a testing site.



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Now go back and read that 1st paragraph. Scary, isn't it?
Have you ever gotten tested? Why? Why not?

I did. Many years ago because a man I had been with was less than honorable. My results came back negative, but I got an earful on how to conduct myself; even if I "thought" I was in a monogamous relationship.
That one little chat makes me think twice to this day.

XOXO
Me

Migraines with Aura in Middle Age Associated with Late-Life Brain Lesions

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/nia-23.htm
Embargoed for Release Tuesday, June 23, 2009 4:00 p.m. EDT
Contact: Barbara Cire 301-496-1752

Migraines with Aura in Middle Age Associated with Late-Life Brain Lesions

Women who suffer from migraine headaches in middle age accompanied by neurological aura (visual disturbances, dizziness or numbness that can precede migraines) are more likely to have damage to brain tissue in the cerebellum later in life, according to a study by researchers at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Icelandic Heart Association in Reykjavik. Researchers noted that many people have these types of "silent" brain lesions, but their effect on physical and cognitive function in older people is not well studied.

The study appears in the June 24, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers found that women are more susceptible than men to localized brain tissue damage identified on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and that women who reported having migraines with aura were almost twice as likely to have such damage in the cerebellum as women who reported not having headaches.

Researchers noted that while the study shows an association in women between migraine and cerebellar tissue damage later in life, the functional significance of such brain changes remains an open question. The cerebellum is located in the lower back side of the brain and is involved in functions such as motor activity, balance and cognition.

"This long-term population-based study increases interest in determining whether migraine could be a risk factor for brain lesions with clinical consequences over time," said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. "Further research should help us better understand what these changes may mean for individuals and for brain function with age."

Migraine headaches affect approximately 11 percent of adults and 5 percent of children worldwide and are more common in women than in men. Migraines are often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. Some individuals with migraine also experience neurological aura symptoms, including temporary visual disturbances that can appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or loss of vision.

This study examined migraine headaches in a community-dwelling cohort of older people. Between 1972 and 1986, when participants were middle-aged (average age 50.9), they were asked about type and frequency of headaches. MRI scans of the cortex and cerebellum brain regions were conducted on 4,600 study participants between 2002 and 2006, when participants� average age was 76.2.

Participants were divided into four groups: migraine headache with aura once or more per month, migraine headache without aura, nonmigraine headache and no headache. The researchers found that overall, 17 percent of the women were classified as having migraine headaches, including 10.3 percent with migraine with aura. Only 5.7 percent of men were classified as having migraine.

Overall, MRI scans revealed the presence of any brain lesion in 39.3 percent of the men and 24.6 percent of the women. Prevalence of cerebellar lesions in women with migraine with aura was 23.0 percent vs. 14.5 percent for women not reporting headaches. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of these lesions in men (19.3 vs. 21.3 percent).

"After adjusting for risk factors for cardiovascular disease, transient ischemic attack or stroke in middle age or late life, we found that women who suffered from migraines with aura in middle age had an almost twofold increased risk of brain lesions in the cerebellum later in life," said Lenore Launer, Ph.D., senior author and chief of the neuroepidemiology section of the Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry in the NIA�s Intramural Research Program. "We are currently investigating the clinical implications of these brain lesions in this group of individuals. We are also interested in whether this association represents a cause and effect relationship or whether some other factors are responsible for the apparent association. The findings from this study are consistent with those from a previous study conducted in younger people using a similar protocol."

Participants were part of the Reykjavik Study and the Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS). Originally established to study heart disease in Iceland, the Reykjavik Study includes a random sample of men and women born between 1907 and 1935 and living in Reykjavik at the beginning of the study in 1967. In 2002, AGES-RS continued the Reykjavik Study to examine risk factors, genetic susceptibility and gene-environment interactions in relation to disease and disability in later life.

This study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, the Icelandic Heart Association and the Icelandic Parliament. Components of the study were also supported by the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the Migraine Research Foundation.

The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people. For more information on research and aging, go to www.nia.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.Citation:
Scher, Ann I., et al., Migraine Headache in Middle Age and Late-Life Brain Infarcts. Journal of the American Medical Association, June 24, 2009�Vol. 301, No. 24, 2563�2570.

Author Affiliations:
National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD (Lenore J. Launer); Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD (Ann I. Scher and Anna Ghambaryan); University of Iceland, Reykjavik, (Larus S. Gudmundsson); The Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, (Sigurdur Sigurdsson, Thor Aspelund, Vilmundur Gudnason, and Gudny Eiriksdottir); and Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands (Mark A. van Buchem).

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I knew there is an increased risk of stroke since my migraines are (generally) preceded with the aura...
Now I have to worry about being goofy too...

XOXO
Me

A Whole Lot of Words, and a Few Little Weeds!

 

A few flowers for your Tuesday...

"Poppies... Poppies... Poppies!"

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Good Morning All;
I know it is Tuesday, but ten thoughts? That seems either too limiting, or too much today.

(Not sure which yet)...

My migraine has passed for a few days already; and I almost feel human! As they say: "At first I was afraid I was going to die; then I was afraid that I wasn't."

Brain boil now... I can't seem to gather a coherent thought for some time. Perhaps the back that 'gets' me with my body and arms in this position, or whatever.
Know I am tired of it.
Casey and I seem to have the same affliction; only she writes right through it! And does a 'wunnaful' job I might add... Most of you already know that she "broke her record" of not visiting the ER. She has blogged about it.
Click for her blog.

I believe I am going to try to type right through it too. (Wish me luck)! hehehe

I am sad as I watch my yard, my garden and all fall to weeds and whatnot. There is some "whatnot" that has come up that I don't even know what it is- Maybe one or two of you can help?

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The poppy I know. 

"Poppies... Poppies... Poppies!"
The weeds I know too
But what are the little purple flowers
that are growing where once my Danver carrots thrived?

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Another little weed here...

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Baby Sam!
He crawls, even walks with help, and is 11 months old.
Daddy Chuck sent these pictures via his camera phone.
Thank you Daddy~Chuck!

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As you may/may not know, Roberta has also lost custody of Sam-
Gabriel is in foster care His foster parents really wanting to adopt him, (but so darn much red tape).
I pray it will go through for them, mostly for Master Gabriel to have a whole family, and to never worry about if Mama loves him...
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Little Sam with Grandpa!
Growing like a weed, wouldn't you say?!

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And I have one more weed too!

Many people do not realize the value of the milkweed. (Aka Joe Pye). As these come up in Spring I always save a few plants for the Monarchs.
Jenne found one the other day, barely bigger than picture wire-
In just 2 days it has quadrupled its size, and is heading for its snack in this shot...
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Since I have been unable to even weed whack, the weeds by the pumphouse and old calf pen are growing slipshod all over.

They are now tall enough to hide a small dog.

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So maybe she is a large dog...
hehehe

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Silly dog "grazes" too...
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But gets miffed when she gets caught...
Lucky for me, she does not regurgitate the grass!

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Kelli and Tim have a new pup-
A kind of rescue dog, as she lived with hardly any fun, and very little food. (I believe that most of what she got, she found herself).
Sad, that.
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She is about 9 months old-
A chocolate lab, (and I think she may have a bit of 'pit' in her too).
Kelli said she reminds her much of my Miss Milly- In that she is still so full of sweetness even though her past might not have been so kind.

As a side, Mr. Miller is getting much more exercise too!
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Kelli brought him along when she came to help get my window A/C in

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Thank you so much my sweet KelliBaby! It is quite livable in here!
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They (our infamous weather people), claim we could be in the 90's today...

Um. Wait...
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"Could?"

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Yes, the thermometer is on the north side of the house-
(Yes, I took that picture in the afternoon).

My lawns need mowing- I assure you that is NOT going to happen today. My shaggy grass will just have to wait a few more days. Too bad. hehehe

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Somebody oughta slap a pool there, don't you think?

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Oh -wait again...

Somebody did slap a pool there!

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OK- So we had to get a liner for under it too.
The little instruction book claimed that the pool will kill the grass under it.

What? You didn't hear me say "too bad" already? hehehe

Before H2O, Jennifer inflated the top ring...

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A minor leak in the ring...
(Will just have to start chewing gum)?!

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Meanwhile, Casey worked on the pump aspect...
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And Miss Punk watched from the 'safety' of the shade...

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(She hates any kind of plastic "scritching" noise)...

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Still, all hell broke loose when the hose was brought out...

Seems these young 'uns didn't care one whit that the temp of my well water is 42° year 'round.
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Nor did it matter that there were only a few inches of water at that point.
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She will be needing her own little kids pool-
(Even chewing gum won't help her paws~n~claws)!
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But until then, we will just take our chances.

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Dog with TWO tails???
And NO head?!?!

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Jenne might have told me where the camera should go...
hehehe

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Punk didn't care where the camera was...

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About a total of 4 hours of water. The lady down in Appleton where we got the pool said it took them a day and a half to get it full. (All I can say is that Appleton water must have low low pressure)...
Another 4-6 hours, this baby would be completely filled. Not sure if we will do that or not-
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I am thinking this will be more than deep enough for a 4 year old.
I do not wish to take any chances.

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Kelli stopped by to see the progress too.
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...And Punk was p*ssed she couldn't go in yesterday.
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And Sputty?

Methinks Sputnik is terrified that someone might throw him in too!

hehehe

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As he was taken to hiding under an old chair last night...

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So you see, not is all sad- Just my yard, my garden, & my weeds.
...And if I keep my eyes closed outside, then all will be well. (I think)?

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world!

Stay safe. Stay cool!

Love to all!

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

Posted to my Y! 360,Tuesday June 23, 2009 - 10:49am (CDT)

"A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby.

5 Familiar Numbers and the Logic Behind Them

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/26721



5 Familiar Numbers and the Logic Behind Them
by Casey Johnston - June 22, 2009 - 1:24 PM

Given how digital the world has become, we are hardly bothered by having to deal with one string of numbers after the next: credit card numbers, social security numbers, IP addresses and so on.

Do these numbers hold any meaning, or are they just random sequences in a database? Read on to find out.

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1. Credit Card Numbers

The string of digits that make up credit card numbers have a distinct, if subtle, structure.
The first digit signifies which system it belongs to: 3 is for travel and entertainment cards like American Express, 4 is Visa, 5 is Mastercard, and 6 is Discover.
The rest of the credit card number is used differently by each company — for Visa cards, digits 2 through 6 are a bank number, 7-12 or 7-15 are the account number, and either 13 or 16 is a check digit, a number that is the result of a series of simple but generally secret computations with the other digits that helps verify the full number isn’t fake. In an AmEx card, digits three and four indicate the type of card and currency, 5-11 are the account number, 12-14 are the card number within the account and 15 is a check digit (AmEx card numbers are 15 instead of 16 digits).

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2. Zip Codes

Zip codes were invented by Robert Aurand Moon and by 1963 were widely used by the United States Postal Service. The five-digit number is a code for an exact location, with each successive digit indicating a more specific place. The first digit indicates a group of states; for example, a 1 directs mail to Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania. The next two indicate a sectional center facility — a zip code beginning with 108 directs mail to the facility New Rochelle, NY. The last two digits represent a village or town near the facility or a location within a metropolitan area. Typically in a non-metropolitan area a city gets the first area code, and surrounding villages and towns receive zip codes in alphabetical order (for example, Glenmont, NY has 12077 and Gloversville, NY has 12078). And in case you were wondering, ZIP is an acronym that stands for Zone Improvement Plan.

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3. Telephone Numbers

Everyone’s a little more familiar with telephone numbers — there’s country code, necessary if dialing internationally (1 is the United States), and area codes, which indicate a broad geographic area. The next three digits indicate a smaller area, and the last four are a random permutation. The area code and first three digits of a phone number are referred to in the telephone business as NPA-NXX. These numbers convey a unit of purchase for telephone companies, as they will generally buy one NPA-NXX, or one combination. The ownership reveals why cell providers are often so tetchy about carrying a number from one to another, or vice versa: you would be stealing a phone number from one company and giving it to another.

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4. IP Addresses

IP addresses, at their most basic level, identify individual computers to the Internet. They are a series of four numbers punctuated by periods that look something like 255.143.68.1. Each of these numbers (such as 255 in the example) is referred to as an octet. Each octet can have a value between 0 and 255 (so if you see an IP address with any octet higher than 255, it’s fake). Together the octets of an IP address contain information about the type of network and, to an extent, the location of a computer. The first octet, called the class, tells you the size of a network a computer is in. A Class A network has a first octet between 0 and 127 and can have over 16 million IP addresses; a Class B network has a first octet between 128 and 191 and have about 65,000 addresses; a Class C network, used for most homes, has a first octet of 192-223 and can have 254 addresses. There are also Class D and E networks with first octets of 224-255 that are used for more specialized purposes. Most IP trackers use a location database to determine where an IP address is coming from, so there is not a direct scheme for the other octets.

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5. Social Security Numbers

Social Security numbers are nine-digit strings that most Americans are assigned at birth, and are generally used as an identifier as well as a qualifier for various kinds of insurance and income from the government. The first three numbers tell where the person first applied for the card; if the card was applied for at birth and the mailing address used was also the residential address, the numbers tell the rough location of birth (doesn’t apply to babies born during vacation in Panama, but in general this is true). The next two digits are called the group number, and allow SSNs of the same area number to be broken into smaller groups. They are assigned in the following order: odd numbers 01-09, evens 10-98, evens 02-08, odds 11-99. The last four digits, the serial numbers, are assigned consecutively 0001-9999.


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Methinks the author might have included the "catch" of our driver license numbers too.

XOXO
Me

Prayers and Pancreatectomy...

Perhaps a few of you have seen the 'reorganization' of my top page.
I have had a few new people find my site and come to ask questions about Casey's illness etc... This gal found me as she did an internet search! Wow!!

If you have a moment, please take the time to go here. CLICK
Beths daughter has just undergone the very same procedure that Casey did last Christmas.
She needs many prayers...

Your love, your thoughts, your prayers and your steadfast support meant everything to me during those long and awful days.
Won't you please be ever so kind to her as well? Please CLICK.
Here is the link: http://markbif.multiply.com/journal/item/3

Love to all. Hope everyone is having a 'wunnaful' weekend!
And Happy Fathers Day too!

XOXO
me

Things my Motorcycle has Taught Me

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

From my inbox. (Thank you Duane)!

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The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.

People ask us why we ride a motorcycle.
For those who have experienced the joy, no explanation is necessary.
For those who have not, no explanation is possible.

I'd rather be riding my motorcycle and thinking about God, than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle.

Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.

Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.

Life may begin at 40, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 80 mph!

You start the game of life with a full pot o' luck and an empty pot o' experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck.

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

Midnight bugs taste just as bad as noon time bugs.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.

Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of gas before you can think straight.

Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.

Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.

A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived, and still rides.

Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and go.

A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.

Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.

Always back your bike into the curb and sit where you can see it.

There are drunk riders and there are old riders; but there are not many old, drunks that are riders.

Ride to work.
(Work to ride).

Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude.

When you look down the road, it seems to never end; but you better believe it does!

Winter is nature's way of telling you to test the electrics.

Keep your bike in good repair. Biker boots are not all that comfortable for walking.

People are like motorcycles; each is customized a bit differently.

Sometimes, the best communication happens when you're on separate bikes.

When you're riding lead, don't spit.

A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at 2 a.m. To drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.

Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary. Catching a yellow jacket in your helmet will triple that special vocabulary.

There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.

Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't.

If you can't get it going with bungee cords and duct tape, it's serious.

If you ride like there's no tomorrow, today will be a BLAST!

The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside.

Always replace the cheapest parts first.

You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.

Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

Keep the paint up, and the rubber down!

There are two types of people in this world - people who ride, and people who wish they did.

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Please feel free to add your own.

XOXO
Me

~Pleurisy~ (Diagnosis in Comments) Casey at hospital- Bad chest pain- Pneumothorax ruled out by Xray. They are running a blood test for a possible blood clot. Will be a long hour before she calls with results...

Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® -ALL refrigerated cookie dough products RECALLED

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm167954.htm
Nestlé USA’s Baking Division Initiates Voluntary Recall

Contact:
Laurie MacDonald
(818) 549-6235
Roz O’Hearn
(440) 264-5170



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Solon, OH - June 19, 2009 - Nestlé USA’s Baking Division is initiating a voluntary recall of Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products. Nestlé is taking this action out of an abundance of caution after being notified that the Food and Drug Administration, together with the Centers for Disease Control, are conducting an investigation into reported E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses that may be related to consumption of raw cookie dough.

A number of consumers reporting illness reported consuming raw Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated cookie dough. While the E. coli strain implicated in this investigation has not been detected in our product, the health and safety of our consumers is paramount so we are initiating this voluntary recall. We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control in this investigation. Providing safe, high quality products to our consumers is our number one priority.

No other Nestlé TOLL HOUSE products are impacted, including already baked TOLL HOUSE cookies purchased outside the home, all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE morsels, chocolate baking bars, or cocoa, and Dreyer’s and Edy’s ice cream products with Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookie dough ingredients.

We want to strongly advise consumers that raw cookie dough should not be eaten. This message also appears prominently on our packaging. Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookies made from refrigerated dough are safe to consume when baked as directed on the package. Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them. Instead, we are asking that consumers return these products to their local grocer for a full refund. We invite consumers with questions to contact Nestlé Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025 and visit our web site at www.verybestbaking.com.

The products involved in the voluntary recall include all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough. Variety information is included in the list below.

Description
Nestle Toll House Cookie & Brownie Dough


Consumer
Unit Code (UPC)

COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH BAR
Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62231 3
Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 11308 8
Chocolate Chunk bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62235 1
Walnut Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62233 7
Jumbo Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62237 5
Oatmeal Raisin bar 16.5oz 0 50000 06219 5
Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62244 3
Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12178 6
Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62242 9
Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12188 5
Mini Brownie Bites bar 16oz 0 50000 62227 6
Fudgy Brownie With Peanut Butter Filling 19oz 0 50000 00820 9

COOKIE DOUGH TUB
Chocolate Chip tub 40oz 0 50000 62246 7
Chocolate Chip tub 80oz (5 lb) 0 50000 00934 3
Sugar tub 40oz. 0 50000 62253 5
Gingerbread tub 40oz 0 50000 44060 3
Peanut Butter tub 40oz 0 50000 44062 7

TUBE (CHUB) DOUGH
Chocolate Chip tube 16.5oz 0 50000 62239 9
Chocolate Chip tube 32oz 0 50000 00400 3

ULTIMATES COOKIE BAR DOUGH
Ultimates Peanut Butter Cups, Chips & Chocolate Chunks bar 16oz 0 50000 00922 0
Ultimates White Chip Macadamia Nut bar 16oz 0 50000 00923 7
Ultimates Chocolate Chip & Chunks with Pecans bar 16oz 0 50000 00925 1
Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers 16oz 0 50000 00926 8
Ultimates Turtles bar 16oz 0 50000 00928 2
Ultimates Peanut Butter Lovers bar 16oz 0 50000 00507 9
Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Caramel Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44066 5
Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44069 6

SEASONAL COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH
Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 12009 3
Valentine Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00931 2
Fudgy Brownies With Raspberry Filling 19oz 0 50000 20090 0
Easter Eggs Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 52009 1
Easter Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00932 9
Easter Swirled Mini Brownie Bites bar 18 oz 0 50000 20093 1
Red, White & Blue Swirled Choc Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00937 4
Halloween Pumpkin Pals Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 06217 1
Halloween Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00929 9
Halloween Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00088 3
Christmas Shapes Sugar Cookies 15.5oz 0 50000 00505 5
Christmas Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00930 5
Christmas Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00089 0
Limited Edition Mint Swirled Chocolate Chip 16oz 0 50000 00827 8

Discontinued Varieties
Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44056 6
Easter Brownie Bar 18oz 0 50000 00518 5
Easter Bunnies Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44058 0
Halloween Sugar Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 00829 2
Christmas Sugar Cookie Tube 16oz 0 50000 00448 5
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Tub 48 oz. 0 50000 62229 0

All of my page is back! All of my friends too. AND ALL of those wee things I need to comment on! hehehe. Promise to be done by Christmas... of 2012 XOXO me

Still Spring?

 

Good Morning All;
I hope you are all safe from the nasty storms that have been all over. Again, we have been very lucky so far. (That may change today according to my forecast). We are to be in the mid 80's, and already a 70% humidity.
Hope everyone is safe from the terrible temperatures too. Too many 90, 100+ temps all over.
My heart goes out to anyone that has to work outside in these temps; and to those of you that have to work inside without a bit of air conditioning too.

Way back when I was married, my husband worked at a paper mill in Green Bay- He still does, just that conditions have changed a bit since. Back before they built the new mill, the temps in the building would go over 130 degrees in the heat (from both the weather and the machines). Somehow, they all lived through it.

When I worked at the store at Wouters, I was mostly comfy, unless the "air" (or the furnace), wasn't working. But back in the kitchen (where all of my girls worked through high school), there was no A/C.
(A fan or two, and to keep the big door open so maybe a breeze would come through the screen door).
I imagine it is still bad on the busy weekend nights for the cooks and their helpers.

While we have not gotten the miserable heat, it has been sunny and warm.
I went into town the other day, leaving Punk at home because where I was going there is no shade. It gets hot in a car very quickly and I am not taking a chance like that. Nor do I want to be leaving windows open- Someone would probably steal her.

That same line of thinking should apply to children, don't you think?
That was not the case as we came out of Woodmans after doing our grocery shopping. I had opted for drive up because of my back, and the fact that Casey has not been feeling well. As we got in the car she said, "Mom, there's a kid in that car!"

WTH???

Sure enough...


.
.

Tucked on the floor, in the front seat...
With the windows open.
God, he could have been taken -
and halfway to Milwaukee before the lady came out.

I called Randy- He was on duty, but a ways away too.-
Casey went back into the store to inform the manager.
The manager came out, taking down the license plate number as well.
.
.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately), the woman left before Randy got there.

.
.
I just wish people would take care of their kids. This woman clearly didn't care!
Not sure if anything happened to her. But I sure as hell hope so.

An FYI for you all... 

Temps in the mere 50's with sunshine on an enclosed vehicle can heat a car to 100+ degrees in a very short while.




Speaking of 100 degrees, Prattville, Alabama is to be hitting the 100's for the next few days. Thankfully Grandma Gaither has a pool.
My son in law William called a few days ago-

My grandson Lawrence is on the Swim Team, and has gotten all GREAT grades this year too! (Think Straight A's)!

He will be in the 5th grade next year- I am so proud of him!
He is 9 this year. And getting more and more handsome all the time too!
.
.

Lawrence on the right,
celebrating his birthday with a friend and a Star Wars cake!

.
.
.

.
.
.
He is also learning how to handle the guns in a good way. (Thank you William)!

.
.
.

At the shooting range

.
.
.

And all smiles when he hits what he's aiming at!

Attaboy!

.
.
Back to Wisconsin...

Jenne took Isaiah and Punk to the woods yesterday afternoon.
.
.

Rather, Isaiah and Punk took Jenne to the woods!
hehehe

.
.
.

Isaiah thought the toidy in the woods was pretty cool

.
.
(And Punk accidentally fell in the river)...

.

.
.
Dirty as the river is right now, all stirred up from rain, she needed a bath.
Which she got. hehehe
.
.

Jenne brushing her out afterward

.
.
.

Curly wet- My soggy doggy!

.
Casey has just gotten here. Jenne and Isaiah are up, (and I'd best get in the shower before no one wants to talk to me)! hehehe


Love to all

Have a fantabulous Friday!

XOXO
Me


PS
Oops... As promised:
How I keep the little 4 legged, non-winged varmints away from the birdfeeder
.
.

A half of a cookie holder form the deli, with all four corners cut.
I've only seen one try to get up there.
He failed miserably, as he grabbed and tumbled right back down!
hehehe

free hit counters

Friday June 19, 2009 - 09:10am (CDT)

Hot Temperatures May be Hazardous to Your Rx Prescription Drugs & Medications

http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/a/drugsinsummer.htm?nl=1
Warning: Hot Temperatures May be Hazardous to Your Drugs
Your Medication Can be A Casualty of Heat Waves and Power Outages

By Mary Shomon,
Summer heat can degrade many common prescription medications
One casualty of heat waves and summer power outages that you may not realize is your prescription medication.

If you take any prescription drug, you need to be aware that storage at high temperatures can quickly degrade the potency and stability of many medications.

Most drugs are recommended to be stored at what's known as "controlled room temperature" -- an average of approximately 77 F. Some permit what are known as "controlled excursions" -- short periods to accommodate shipping, for example -- at temperatures up to 86 F for shorter periods.

For example, here are the storage recommendations for the nation's top four most-prescribed drugs (as defined by RxList.com):

•     * Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium): Store at controlled room temperature
•     * Toprol (metroprolol succinate): Store at controlled room temperature.
  
  • Excursions permitted to 59 to 86 F (15 to 30 C).
•     * Norvasc (amlodipine besylate): Store bottles at controlled room temperature.
•     * Synthroid (levothyroxine): Store at controlled room temperature;
  
  • excursions permitted to 59 - 86 F (15 - 30 C)

Controlled room temperature is defined by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) as:
"A temperature maintained thermostatically that encompasses the usual and customary working environment of 20 to 25 C (68 - 77 F) that allows for brief deviations between 15 - 30 C (59 - 86 F) that are experienced in pharmacies, hospitals, and warehouses."

Summer heat, however, can expose your medications to dangerous temperatures that can potentially degrade your drugs -- and often, without your knowing.
For example:

•     * Your medication is stored in your home, and you are in an area of 90-degree plus heat and do not have air conditioning
•     * Your medication traveled in the airline luggage compartment
•     * Your medication was stored in a hot automobile
•     * You have experienced an extended power outage at your home
•     * Your pharmacy lost power for an extended period during a storm or power failure
•     * Your pharmacy turns off air conditioning when the store is closed
•     * You get your medications from a mail order pharmacy that ships regular mail, and drugs spend time in postal trucks, and in your mailbox

During summer, if you take prescription medications, pay particular attention to any unusual symptoms that may suggest your medication isn't working properly. These sorts of symptoms may be a sign that your medication has lost potency due to heat.


How to Protect Your Medication

To ensure that your medication is fresh, and fully effective, here are some summer pointers:

•     * Check the storage information for any medications you take so that you are aware of any temperature restrictions
•     * Carry medications on the airplane with you, instead of storing them in your checked luggage. (Always a good idea because of the risk of lost luggage). Note, however, that to avoid problems for domestic travel, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) recommends, but does not require, that your prescription medications be labeled to assist with the screening process. International travelers should travel with medicines in their original containers with pharmacy labels, so you can more easily pass through Customs checkpoints.
•     * If you are traveling by car, do not store medications in the trunk. Keep them in the car with you. Do not leave them in the car for extended periods.
•     * If you have experienced an extended power outage at your home, contact your pharmacist to find out whether your medication should be replaced.
•     * Ask your pharmacy what sort of plan they have in place to protect medications in the event of a power failure. Ensure that they do not turn off air conditioning when the store is closed
•     * If you have the choice, have mail order medications or Internet pharmacies ship to you by overnight delivery methods, and be there to accept the package.

What Should You Do if Your Medication Has Been Exposed to Excessive Heat?

1. Your first step? Talk to your pharmacist and see what he or she recommends.
2. Your next step should be a call to your health insurance company or HMO, who may be able to replace your medication, or reimburse you for a replacement prescription.
3. Finally, if your pharmacy and insurance company are unable to help you, contact the manufacturer.

According to drugmaker Abbott Laboratories' consumer hotline, it's possible -- not guaranteed however -- that Abbott and other drug makers may be able to offer some form of reimbursement for heat-damaged medications.


Note for Thyroid Patients
The consumer medical hotline for Synthroid's manufacturer, Abbott Labs, recommends that patients replace their thyroid medication if the pills have been stored at temperatures above 86 degrees for any length of time.

All the levothyroxine drugs -- such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid, and generic levothyroxine -- should be stored away from light and moisture, and at a temperature no higher than 86 F.
This temperature guideline also applies to Cytomel (liothyronine), Armour (desiccated thyroid), and the antithyroid drugs PTU and methimazole. (NOTE: The synthetic T4/T3 drug Thyrolar (liotrix) should be refrigerated, at a temperature no higher than 46 F.)

Sources:
Rxlist.com
Synthroid Consumer Hotline call, August 2006
Transportation Safety Administration: Permitted and Prohibited Items/Air Travel
Transportation Safety Administration: Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
U.S. Pharmacopeia, "USP Quality Review No. 40, Revised 6/94, Storage Definitions" Online.

Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid Guide since 1997, is a nationally-known patient advocate and best-selling author of 10 books on health, including "The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age," "The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss," "Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know," "Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism," "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease," and "Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia."