cold

"What you doing Elmer?" "Why I am performing a alchemical process involving hot water in transforming ceramics and metal under constrained conditions." "Washing the dishes with the wife?" long pause "Uh yup"

" She probably shoulda switched them around." Its probably neither nice nor wise to doubt perfection. Don't ask me how I know, just trust me!

The best laid plans ... A Daoist would be flexible, would they not ? Living in that moment of awareness. Shedding tears for dead and dying Geese Expanding understanding with a smile Back to practicing kindness

Breathe, remember to breathe slowly and deeply. Envision a win!

Yes, be safe.

Wishing peace and goodwill to one and all.

There are "Proper Times and Places" for Jokes. And improper places. I strongly recommend saying "Hello Jack" instead of "Hi Jack" and refraining from using the words Bomb or bombed in a conversation at a airport or on an airplane.

"Mother Nature" if you will is all powerful. I can see the mosquitos being moved by wind several hundred miles over a very short period of time. See soy bean rust for an example of a pest being transported by wind. Hubris a truly human ailment.

It's not personal, yet we often see it that way.

Yup, thank you cheya! And thanks to all who serve or severed!

Traditional Chinese Medicine ?

My Aunt 82 years old is in a hospitol dying, may pass on any day. My Uncle (my mothers brother) is 85, a retired police man, an alcholic, almost completely dependent on my Aunt, and in denial of her condition. They live 850 miles away from me, and my Aunt has been ill on and off since November 07, in and out of hospitol. My Uncle has a gun, pistol next to his bed. During my last visit 2 weeks ago I tried unsuccessfully to have him give up his gun. I realize it is a type of freedom a form of control to have a gun... But I am concerned about the possibility of he using it to take his life after my Aunt passes on. One thought is to repalce the bullets with blanks? I envision powder burns, and possible dental damage? Any ideas? thanks cold

LOL!

redcairo you are most welcome.

I remained in Florida for a week in a motel, my Aunts sister and her husband were staying in my uncle spare room, and after they returned home three week at my Uncle's to get things settled. In October of that year I drove down with my sister in law to bring my Uncle back home to live in my sisters home, formerly my parents home. He remained there for two years before deciding to return to Florida. Six or so months later I got a call from his neighbor stating their concern about his health. That was on a Friday, I arrived his home Saturday and he was surprised and pleasantly so. He had balance issues and kept falling opening wounds on his head. These falls happened every evening and we either at an emergency room or a doctors office every day. On Friday we were seen by his regular doctor who stated " If you were not going home with your nephew I would be inclined to put you in a hospital and figure out was going on". But he got the ok to travel from his Doctor. Saturday mid morning we left stopping for lunch and an early dinner after which we went to a hotel and he became very agitated he had been complaining his head hurt all day. Given the amount of trauma it was to be expected. He became angry very angry with me. I phoned my sister a Nurse and person whom had his living will what to do? Call an ambulance, which I did. They asked which hospital to carry him to , why the best one was my reply. It was close to midnight when the brain surgeon told me he was bleeding in his skull and due to high level of blood thinner in his body he would bleed to death if they opened him. I asked for a phone and called my sister. I told her the news and let her confirm with surgeon. He was moved to I.C.U.. My sister arrived at the hospital early Saturday morning having flown to nearby airport and then taxi to hospital. My uncle was on life support and the Doctors all agreed he would not survive without it and recommended we pull the plug or allow them that option. We got the hospital chaplain to say a few words, met with the hospital administration an ethicist a few doctors were there as well. His living will indicated clearly what his wishes were in a case like this, that is to end life support. So we did after a tear full goodbye we left him unconscious and on life support. It was strongly suggested we not be present when life support was withdrawn. As neither of us had eaten they suggested a meal would be appropriate. We no sooner sat down and our food arrived and we got the call. Getting our supper to go, we quickly returned to the hospital. We made an appointment with the undertaker on Sunday. And as a death certificate had to be issued and recorded it could take up to a week before anything else could be done. My uncle didn't want a funeral or burial. He was cremated and the remains after some time were sent to my sister. My ancestors are frequently in my mind, more so this time of year. Tomorrow I will go to the graves of some of them. My father was orphaned at an early age his mother passed when he was 6 his dad remarried and quickly had another son before he too passed. My fathers mothers sister (Aunt Mary) took my dad in. They had one child a daughter Lee. Aunt Mary was married to Harry. Aunt Mary died after a brief hospital stay. Lee kept the news of her passing from my uncle for a week or ten days we arrived the news broke and he too died within three days, or so. My father had lived with them until he was 18 and enlisted in the army, serving in World War Two. He returned state side went to college half way across the country from Mary and Harry. The visited only twice that I recall. I was certain of a few things tho Harry adored Mary was fond of golf and did not like kids! We were not close. Following my parents deaths I had extreme shoulder arm pain went emergency room once. I thought I was having a heart attack. Saw my regular Doc and a Cardiologist nothing wrong. Went to see my dads acupuncturist whom coincidently was his chemo nurse and did an outstanding job with both. She needled me twice a week, I went to a addict recovery program in between where heroin users were getting auricular treatments by students studying acupuncture. These treatments were done in the Penn North neighbor hood in Baltimore. A BAD part of town to say the least, Freddy Gray's neighbor hood. Although not an addict myself I was helped and learned an awful lot the students were mostly white like myself, and came from an upper middleclass background and were treating primarily people of color poor to boot. The tension some days was so incredible. Mostly with the newest students, those who had not needled clients / patients before.

lol! the weed? And Welcome! edit to add welcome

And a smile can do wonders to/for the one smiling as well!

Link provided yields Error 404 page not found for this luddite. Thanks in advance.

I struggle with compassion and anger. My being ("Ego") if you will has a lot of time and energy invested in my garden. Most produce goes to local food banks. The compassion angle. The anger comes in when the critters nibble at a fruit or vegetable, decide no not for me and continue to nibble damage down the row. I know on an intellectual level that's the way the world works. Emotionally I feel robbed. ( Lol ) The fields are fenced, and walked daily. Development pressure is increasing all around, new houses, less trees, less options for the critters. Trapping is an option. So is acceptance. If I didn't care I wouldn't get angry, cause I wouldn't plant. I cry over spoiled fruits of my labor. And laugh of the absurdity of the tears. I intervene as little as possible. Struggling for balance.

I too saw EARTH MAGIC when I ventured into the volunteer pumpkin patch (actually heirloom winter squash that reseeded itself from culls placed in compost pile last fall. Lo and behold the miraculous Bounty! I carried 533 lbs. to food bank today (my guess as to about what they could distribute, quickly and without worry). I sensed a bit of relief when I replied NO when asked are you coming back any time soon. LOL Held another 600 + lbs. for delivery to others. I rarely estimate yield ahead of harvest, but I speculated that patch would harvest out at 500 lbs. of #1 product. And about that amount in culls. I eat the culls (but not all, by any means) and offer to family and friends. Despite there being a ground hog den in the field and one pretty close, we only composted about 50 lbs.!

A red tailed hawk swept low and slow using ground effect to maintain lift as it increased it's speed with a still squirming squirrel in its talons. When we first started planting here there was nary a squirrel to be seen. Planting corn quickly changed that. They arrived from near and far to feast on one of their favorite foods. For some the journey included bringing travelling provisions, acorns walnuts and such. Soon forgotten many of these germinated and grew. Spring was pretty wet heres'about and I am more than pleasantly surprised with the amount of walnuts, not a favorite food of the white tailed deer, and acorns growing and beginning to ripen. Acorns are a real treat to the deer around here! Its becoming more of a wild life refuge and less of a organic farm. :wacko:LOL

Dance with the one who brought ya.

I recall a rather large collective sigh of relief January 1, 2000 ?

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. Yogi Berra