Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Anyone still here???
Well I created a blog over at that blogger place... again. I had one earlier then deleted it. If all went well my journal should have migrated over there from here. If anyone is still around check me out here. http://jennasrandomthoughts2.blogspot.com. Couldn't get the names I wanted so I had to settle for this one. I kind of like it though. Come on over and leave me a comment. I'll be making rounds over there soon.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Keeping an eye on weather
Well we got a bit of rain as predicted. It's still raining right now, not storming, just raining. It hasn't cooled it down out there much, but it's better than yesterday was.
I've been keeping a close eye on Hanna all morning and tracking it online. My daughter's online Math tutor lives in Myrtle Beach, and our neighbor's son is in the Marines at Camp Lejeune. So we're praying that they both are safe and out of harm's way.
We know that the base emergency operations center was fully activated at 8am, and the base emergency shelters will open later this afternoon. So we're pretty confident that he is safe. But we're not sure if our tutor has evacuated or what's going on with her. This is a vacation week for us so we've not really had contact with her.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this earlier this week or not, but my husband's niece was home for Labor Day. She's been in the National Guard two years now. She ended up getting sent overseas earlier this year. She left in January for the Iraq/Kuwait border for a year tour. It's been hard on my mother in law with her being over there because she raised her all of her life. So she really enjoyed having her back for a week. Now she's gone again. She just returned to Kuwait yesterday. Thankfully her tour is almost up, and with any luck she'll stay on American soil for a while. We hope.
I'm going to go finish making my way around to journals now. I was so tired last night I never got to them all. If anyone in J-land is in the area of Hanna, or has family in the area, my family is keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
It's so hot!
Gosh it's hot and humid here! Temps reached nearly 90 today, but
it's about 80 out now. However the humidity is still at 62% and I am dying! My
house is a huge 11 room/5 bedroom colonial. It takes three air conditioners and
a few ceiling fans to keep this place comfortable. Well, my fan in the kitchen
is broke, and cooking dinner was just absolutely unbearable.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit cooler with a chance of a storm. I hope we do
get the storm. Maybe it will cool it off a bit. Actually we're supposed to have
chance of storms tomorrow and Saturday, and then again on Tuesday and
Wednesday. Speaking of storms, I hope everyone here in the US is out of harm's
way with Hanna moving in. And then we have Ike and Josephine out there too. My
family is praying that Ike is not too dangerous, and that Josephine just dies
out.
These storms have been doing a number on Haiti haven't they? My goodness. Last
thing I read was something like 75 people died due to Hanna, 75 due to Gustav,
and 50 due to Fay! That was earlier today so I'm sure it's more now. The photos
I saw were just terrible. I couldn't even look at all of them because it
reminded me so much of Katrina. People on their roofs, animals stranded (and
animal carcasses laying everywhere), aid unable to get into the areas hit bad.
Just horrible. And Ike is not far behind.
I went for a walk earlier to get my evening coffee. On the way home I went
around the block. There is a company around the block that runs three blocks.
In the weeds by the fence that runs along the perimeter there were some
raccoons. So I thought I'd try and go home, get my camera, and come back. Now I
figured one of two things would happen. Either A) I'd barely make it home
before my heel started killing me, and would not be able to go back out. Or B)
I'd get home, get the camera, make it back, and they would be gone. Well I did
make it home and back. And they were still there! So I got some photos of them.
I am not as close to them as it appears from the photos. It just looks like I
was because I used my big lens. I guess I may have been close enough though
because the one was hissing and making a chittering kind of noise.
So that was my
excitement for the day. I love seeing wildlife. And I really love when I can
get a photo or two. I'm hoping this weekend I can get out to the park. I want
to see what I can photograph. Usually there are lots of birds and squirrels,
and if I'm quick enough I might get a chipmunk.
I guess I should wrap this up for now. I haven't made my way around to journals
yet today. Guess I'll go do that now and check the updates for Hanna and Ike
also.
Have a good night.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
AIM/AOL/Bebo
I wonder if anyone has noticed at the top of their AIM profile there is a message. It says "Changes Are Coming to Your Profile Experience!" And then you can click to learn more. What you get is a short little explanation of what is going on. AIM profiles are moving to Bebo. There is a longer explanation that I found by digging around a bit.
I did a google search of Bebo and it said "Allows users to share photos with music, and blogs, and draw on members' White Boards." When I went to Bebo, which Wiki says is a a social network service, I don't know what to think of it. I didn't see anywhere for blogs, but I'm thinking AOL is perhaps going to moving everything over there eventually. Because Wiki says that AOL purchased Bebo earlier this year. You can read about that here. They have Groups on Bebo, but from just poking around quickly I didn't see where I would be interested in any that's for sure.
But I just wanted to post this and give a head's up. We have to decide by the 15th if we want them to move our profile to Bebo, or just delete it. Those are the only choices. I'm not sure if I like this Bebo just yet. Honestly, my first impression was that it's more of a place to hook up. Know what I mean?
UPDATE: Uh-Oh! Just checked Magic Smoke while making my rounds. Seems some folks have lost their profiles. They just disappeared!
I did a google search of Bebo and it said "Allows users to share photos with music, and blogs, and draw on members' White Boards." When I went to Bebo, which Wiki says is a a social network service, I don't know what to think of it. I didn't see anywhere for blogs, but I'm thinking AOL is perhaps going to moving everything over there eventually. Because Wiki says that AOL purchased Bebo earlier this year. You can read about that here. They have Groups on Bebo, but from just poking around quickly I didn't see where I would be interested in any that's for sure.
But I just wanted to post this and give a head's up. We have to decide by the 15th if we want them to move our profile to Bebo, or just delete it. Those are the only choices. I'm not sure if I like this Bebo just yet. Honestly, my first impression was that it's more of a place to hook up. Know what I mean?
UPDATE: Uh-Oh! Just checked Magic Smoke while making my rounds. Seems some folks have lost their profiles. They just disappeared!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Just random stuff, maybe a vent
I wish there were more moods to choose from. My choice would have been "Mixed" I think. I'm in a good mood, elated mood, blah mood, pissy mood, and exhausted mood. Arrghh. I was trying to sleep but I can't so I thought I'd write. Or type as the case may be. I don't know where this will lead. If I ramble I apologize in advance.
My good mood is because it was another beautiful day here. Not too hot, not humid. And because I woke up and so did everyone in my family. That's always good. The kids have been extremely well behaved today, both the human ones and the furry ones. That's always reason to be in a good mood.
My elated mood is because I had another appointment with the podiatrist today. Hmm... elated and podiatrist? Not two words that would normally be used in the same sentence are they lol. But Yay for me! No injections! And Yippee! I'm up to about 60-70% better. I think it's a combination of the last injection and the anti-inflammatory meds, but I think the Crocs have a lot to do with it. He's cut me down to every other week now instead of every week. Finally I can walk a distance and just be on my feet in general with no pain. And boy was I on my feet a lot today. I still don't have my orthotics, but I finally got an appointment to go get my feet molded tomorrow so they can make the orthotics and should have them in 2 weeks or so. I thought I'd have them by now. Oh well, I waited this long so what's a couple more weeks. When I got home I went for a walk to the corner AND back with no problem. Then I went with my mom to take my parents' cat back to the doc. They were a bit packed so I was on my feet a bit and wasn't all that uncomfortable. Once a seat opened up though I snagged it. Better not put too much stress on the feet just yet.
As for the cat well he's the reason for my good mood and blah mood. He is doing better. He's gained another ounce since Saturday. He hasn't vomited. He's vocal again. And the doc agrees that it probably isn't cancer. But he also said it could be, and it could be a number of other things. The only way to tell for sure is by x-rays, more blood work, and/or go inside to poke around, maybe take samples. We're not wanting to do that and he's suggesting we don't do it either. At his age the plan of action is to make sure he keeps eating, make sure he's not in pain, and make sure he's comfortable and his quality of life is good. Maybe he'll be around a bit longer, maybe not. We'll have to wait and see. That's hard for my folks. We've put down both family dogs in the last few years. To lose the cat too is going to be hard on them and they will be very lonely. They said they want no more pets once he's gone because it's just been too hard on them to let them go.
Another reason for the blah mood is my sister called today. My older niece is having problems with this sprained neck due to the accident Sunday. She is in a lot of pain and is crying. My sister spent the better part of her day, from work, on the phone to her doc and the hospital that treated the girls Sunday. The doc had the reports from the hospital faxed over and has removed her from her Cross Country and Marching Band. She may not participate in either until further notice. She must also start physical therapy (again) and must start immediately, at least once a week. She was just released from physical therapy less than a year ago and it wasn't on her list of things she likes to do instead of going to school. I feel so sorry for her and wish I could take this pain away for her and suffer myself.
This kid has been through a LOT in her 15 years of life (born with only one functioning kidney) and her life hung in the balance just about two years ago. She's the one I mentioned before that has battled anorexia for almost two years. As a result of her immunity being down and her hectic sports schedule she got mono and ended up in the hospital. She was so weak and near death they were going to put feeding tubes in. Luckily we showed enough faith that we could get her to eat if they'd just let us try. So the whole family took turns going at meals and having her eat enough the weekend she was admitted that they said they wouldn't insert them if the progress kept up. She could not walk, could not lift anything... all her muscles had atrophied. So she was taken to physical therapy every day in the hospital. She hated it! I hated it too. In fact I only went once. I couldn't stand to see her so deathly thin and weak, and I knew I couldn't let her see me so upset with how she looked. When she was finally released it was on conditions. She had to continue with a strict physical therapy schedule, see a psychiatrist, weekly blood work, and a strict diet of protein shakes and other stuff to put weight on. She missed a whole year of school and sports, both of which she loves. But she made it through. She still struggles to keep weight on but theblood work isn't weekly anymore and the therapists released her about a year ago now. She just got permission from the doc to do cross country. Now she can't do it.
And now I'm rambling... sorry. Anyway, that's where my pissy mood comes in. This kid has endured so much bullshit and I can't understand why? Why her? What the hell did she ever do? It makes me so angry. I wish there was something I could do. But there isn't. And that makes me angry.
Then to top it off someone, an internet troll I suppose, decided to email me about my entry Sunday pertaining to the injuries my nieces and their stepsister sustained from the seatbelts. That REALLY has me in a pissy mood. Apparently this troll is anti seatbelt from what I gather. They don't have a journal here (I checked) so I don't know how they found mine. I guess maybe saw me commenting someone else's or something. But whatever. I didn't bother to reply and deleted the email. Now it's eating at me!!!
So in case my troll is reading I'd like to just say... THANK GOD my family cares enough about our children to put them in seatbelts! Not using a seatbelt with kids is like having an auto eject button! So if my nieces do "wear the scars for the rest of their life" then so be it. THANK GOD for the scars then because I don't think my family is willing to trade the scars for their lives. The fact that the seatbelts cut into their flesh is proof of how violently they were thrown around inside the van in that accident. If not for the seatbelts they may have been thrown out a window. Instead of trolling around the internet, you could better use your time by trying to develop some common sense.
Ok then. Well, I do feel a bit better. Maybe now I can sleep? For anyone still reading this... sorry about the boring, random, not-so-happy, kinda-mean entry! But I just needed to vent and that's one reason I created this journal.
My good mood is because it was another beautiful day here. Not too hot, not humid. And because I woke up and so did everyone in my family. That's always good. The kids have been extremely well behaved today, both the human ones and the furry ones. That's always reason to be in a good mood.
My elated mood is because I had another appointment with the podiatrist today. Hmm... elated and podiatrist? Not two words that would normally be used in the same sentence are they lol. But Yay for me! No injections! And Yippee! I'm up to about 60-70% better. I think it's a combination of the last injection and the anti-inflammatory meds, but I think the Crocs have a lot to do with it. He's cut me down to every other week now instead of every week. Finally I can walk a distance and just be on my feet in general with no pain. And boy was I on my feet a lot today. I still don't have my orthotics, but I finally got an appointment to go get my feet molded tomorrow so they can make the orthotics and should have them in 2 weeks or so. I thought I'd have them by now. Oh well, I waited this long so what's a couple more weeks. When I got home I went for a walk to the corner AND back with no problem. Then I went with my mom to take my parents' cat back to the doc. They were a bit packed so I was on my feet a bit and wasn't all that uncomfortable. Once a seat opened up though I snagged it. Better not put too much stress on the feet just yet.
As for the cat well he's the reason for my good mood and blah mood. He is doing better. He's gained another ounce since Saturday. He hasn't vomited. He's vocal again. And the doc agrees that it probably isn't cancer. But he also said it could be, and it could be a number of other things. The only way to tell for sure is by x-rays, more blood work, and/or go inside to poke around, maybe take samples. We're not wanting to do that and he's suggesting we don't do it either. At his age the plan of action is to make sure he keeps eating, make sure he's not in pain, and make sure he's comfortable and his quality of life is good. Maybe he'll be around a bit longer, maybe not. We'll have to wait and see. That's hard for my folks. We've put down both family dogs in the last few years. To lose the cat too is going to be hard on them and they will be very lonely. They said they want no more pets once he's gone because it's just been too hard on them to let them go.
Another reason for the blah mood is my sister called today. My older niece is having problems with this sprained neck due to the accident Sunday. She is in a lot of pain and is crying. My sister spent the better part of her day, from work, on the phone to her doc and the hospital that treated the girls Sunday. The doc had the reports from the hospital faxed over and has removed her from her Cross Country and Marching Band. She may not participate in either until further notice. She must also start physical therapy (again) and must start immediately, at least once a week. She was just released from physical therapy less than a year ago and it wasn't on her list of things she likes to do instead of going to school. I feel so sorry for her and wish I could take this pain away for her and suffer myself.
This kid has been through a LOT in her 15 years of life (born with only one functioning kidney) and her life hung in the balance just about two years ago. She's the one I mentioned before that has battled anorexia for almost two years. As a result of her immunity being down and her hectic sports schedule she got mono and ended up in the hospital. She was so weak and near death they were going to put feeding tubes in. Luckily we showed enough faith that we could get her to eat if they'd just let us try. So the whole family took turns going at meals and having her eat enough the weekend she was admitted that they said they wouldn't insert them if the progress kept up. She could not walk, could not lift anything... all her muscles had atrophied. So she was taken to physical therapy every day in the hospital. She hated it! I hated it too. In fact I only went once. I couldn't stand to see her so deathly thin and weak, and I knew I couldn't let her see me so upset with how she looked. When she was finally released it was on conditions. She had to continue with a strict physical therapy schedule, see a psychiatrist, weekly blood work, and a strict diet of protein shakes and other stuff to put weight on. She missed a whole year of school and sports, both of which she loves. But she made it through. She still struggles to keep weight on but theblood work isn't weekly anymore and the therapists released her about a year ago now. She just got permission from the doc to do cross country. Now she can't do it.
And now I'm rambling... sorry. Anyway, that's where my pissy mood comes in. This kid has endured so much bullshit and I can't understand why? Why her? What the hell did she ever do? It makes me so angry. I wish there was something I could do. But there isn't. And that makes me angry.
Then to top it off someone, an internet troll I suppose, decided to email me about my entry Sunday pertaining to the injuries my nieces and their stepsister sustained from the seatbelts. That REALLY has me in a pissy mood. Apparently this troll is anti seatbelt from what I gather. They don't have a journal here (I checked) so I don't know how they found mine. I guess maybe saw me commenting someone else's or something. But whatever. I didn't bother to reply and deleted the email. Now it's eating at me!!!
So in case my troll is reading I'd like to just say... THANK GOD my family cares enough about our children to put them in seatbelts! Not using a seatbelt with kids is like having an auto eject button! So if my nieces do "wear the scars for the rest of their life" then so be it. THANK GOD for the scars then because I don't think my family is willing to trade the scars for their lives. The fact that the seatbelts cut into their flesh is proof of how violently they were thrown around inside the van in that accident. If not for the seatbelts they may have been thrown out a window. Instead of trolling around the internet, you could better use your time by trying to develop some common sense.
Ok then. Well, I do feel a bit better. Maybe now I can sleep? For anyone still reading this... sorry about the boring, random, not-so-happy, kinda-mean entry! But I just needed to vent and that's one reason I created this journal.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Happy Labor Day
I just want to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day. Be safe and have a fantastic day. If you will be out driving please, please, wear your seat belt! They save lives!
Remember our troops today, and all they are doing to keep us safe. Many will not be home to celebrate this holiday with family and friends.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Update on Accident
This has been one of the most exhausting days mentally that I have ever had. I'm looking forward to taking a hot bath and crawling into bed after this entry.
First of all my nieces are both fine... injured, but fine. Everyone in my ex brother in law's van was injured in the accident, but treated and released from the hospital. All are at home resting and trying to deal with what happened today. There was another vehicle involved and apparently they weren't injured, but their vehicle is also totalled. Sadly, the man who ran the stop sign did not make it. What we know now is that it's very likely he had a heart attack at the wheel.
The accident happened about 20-25 minutes from my ex brother in law's house, and about 15 minutes from my sister's house. Several lucky events saved their lives this morning. One is that they invited my ex brother in law's nephew at the last minute. That is the only reason they took their van. Otherwise they would have taken their car and someone may have been injured much worse, possibly fatally. Another lucky event is that the impact was not on the side of the vehicle. And yet another is when they were careening across the intersection they just missed a pole which could have split the van in half.
My brother in law's nephew was driving which I found out later. He was proceeding through the intersection when he realized the man coming from the other direction was coming quick and wasn't stopping for the sign. He attempted to stop and avoid hitting him, and my brother in law tried to take control and stop. They caught the back of the car and spun out of control hitting a truck pulling a horse trailer and then careened across the intersection. The man spun and ended up through the intersection stopping by the truck and trailer. The people in the truck were stopped at the sign.
The people in the truck were not injured but their truck is totalled because the frame is busted or bent out of whack and their engine is pushed back. The man's carhad the back end ripped off more or less. My ex brother in law's van has the front end and engine pushed back through the firewall and into the dash and no windshield. So all vehicles are totalled. The truck with the trailer doesn't look bad in the photos, but what do I know.
As for injuries, my ex brother in law has sprained ankles. Nothing broken amazingly. His nephew has burns from the air bag exploding and the seat belt cutting in as well as some cuts and bruises. My 11 year old niece has cuts in her legs from the seat belt, a cut on her neck down to her chest from the seat belt, burns from the seat belt, bumps and bruises, and a sprained arm. My 15 year old niece has a sprained neck, a bump on the head, bumps and bruises, seatbelt burns, and her stomach is fine. Her discomfort was nerves and probably the seat belt might have dug in. Their step sister has a cut on her neck from the seat belt, burns from the seat belt, and is just shook up. Their step mom injured her back and was in the hospital the longest for tests. She is unable to walk. They have determined she can walk, but is just in too much pain. They gave her pain pills and muscle relaxers, and sent her home.
When the man's wife found out that he hit a van with children in it she came to the hospital. She had to see all of the kids for herself and make sure they were okay. She was so sorry that their day was ruined. My sister said this woman is the strongest woman she ever met! She said this woman did not shed one tear for her husband, but was only concerned that he had hurt some children. My sister is worried for her, as am I. I only hope that when the reality of losing her husband sets in, that her grief is not overwhelming and that her pain is not relentless.
Thank you Betty, Missie, and Michelle for your comments and for the prayers. Please pray now for this man's soul that he may rest in peace. And for his family so that they can find peace, grieve healthy, adjust to life without their loved one, and not feel guilt over what happened.
First of all my nieces are both fine... injured, but fine. Everyone in my ex brother in law's van was injured in the accident, but treated and released from the hospital. All are at home resting and trying to deal with what happened today. There was another vehicle involved and apparently they weren't injured, but their vehicle is also totalled. Sadly, the man who ran the stop sign did not make it. What we know now is that it's very likely he had a heart attack at the wheel.
The accident happened about 20-25 minutes from my ex brother in law's house, and about 15 minutes from my sister's house. Several lucky events saved their lives this morning. One is that they invited my ex brother in law's nephew at the last minute. That is the only reason they took their van. Otherwise they would have taken their car and someone may have been injured much worse, possibly fatally. Another lucky event is that the impact was not on the side of the vehicle. And yet another is when they were careening across the intersection they just missed a pole which could have split the van in half.
My brother in law's nephew was driving which I found out later. He was proceeding through the intersection when he realized the man coming from the other direction was coming quick and wasn't stopping for the sign. He attempted to stop and avoid hitting him, and my brother in law tried to take control and stop. They caught the back of the car and spun out of control hitting a truck pulling a horse trailer and then careened across the intersection. The man spun and ended up through the intersection stopping by the truck and trailer. The people in the truck were stopped at the sign.
The people in the truck were not injured but their truck is totalled because the frame is busted or bent out of whack and their engine is pushed back. The man's carhad the back end ripped off more or less. My ex brother in law's van has the front end and engine pushed back through the firewall and into the dash and no windshield. So all vehicles are totalled. The truck with the trailer doesn't look bad in the photos, but what do I know.
As for injuries, my ex brother in law has sprained ankles. Nothing broken amazingly. His nephew has burns from the air bag exploding and the seat belt cutting in as well as some cuts and bruises. My 11 year old niece has cuts in her legs from the seat belt, a cut on her neck down to her chest from the seat belt, burns from the seat belt, bumps and bruises, and a sprained arm. My 15 year old niece has a sprained neck, a bump on the head, bumps and bruises, seatbelt burns, and her stomach is fine. Her discomfort was nerves and probably the seat belt might have dug in. Their step sister has a cut on her neck from the seat belt, burns from the seat belt, and is just shook up. Their step mom injured her back and was in the hospital the longest for tests. She is unable to walk. They have determined she can walk, but is just in too much pain. They gave her pain pills and muscle relaxers, and sent her home.
When the man's wife found out that he hit a van with children in it she came to the hospital. She had to see all of the kids for herself and make sure they were okay. She was so sorry that their day was ruined. My sister said this woman is the strongest woman she ever met! She said this woman did not shed one tear for her husband, but was only concerned that he had hurt some children. My sister is worried for her, as am I. I only hope that when the reality of losing her husband sets in, that her grief is not overwhelming and that her pain is not relentless.
Thank you Betty, Missie, and Michelle for your comments and for the prayers. Please pray now for this man's soul that he may rest in peace. And for his family so that they can find peace, grieve healthy, adjust to life without their loved one, and not feel guilt over what happened.
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