a few blogs and a funny cat site

Two blogs which I've greatly enjoyed reading, have new, improved blog sites / URL's. 

Please now visit Dan / DPoem here (yeah, I know, he keeps his aol journal going, too, which is good as this new one doesn't really like being pulled up on my computer):  The Wisdom of a Distracted Mind, 

and also visit "morphed into a New Yorker with a newer spiffy blog to boot," Jeff Zimmerman, here:  And I Am Not Lying — For Real  (he will not be keeping up his former one, which I have on my side bar currently and will, ultimately, update, along with these others).

Guido / Pharmolo has a third blog I didn't know about until today:  Tropical Cyclones  Weather fanatics and those NEEDING this information may be the only real niche here, but sometimes I'm an extreme-weather fan, and it's all good info focused, summarized, and qualified just in case.  (His other, public blog includes a touch of weather and snapshots of life on a northern Scottish Isle:  Northern Trip)

A blog new to ME, is Kellen's /irisheyes1929 AOL journal, Journal Tournament V  So much of life can be stressful (good and bad stress), so it's been a handful of moments of fun respite asking my friends these trivia questions and doing occasional searches.  (Hey, Kellen, I think I know the answer to #10!  Then again, being I only have 3 others answered thus far, I'm still not moving along too quickly.)

Ending on an adorable cat site a friend sent me: I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?  How can anyone not smile?

Tags: blog plugs, tropical cyclones, Jeff Zimmerman, DPoem, Journal Tournament V

our Governor is cool:)

After the Baltimore Feis, held in, gee, the suburbs of B'more, with a skipjack on the feis t-shirts (more of that another entry, great to see M!), with traffic jammed on 695, anyway, I figured I'd join (female) Friend again from Friday night at Saturday night's version of the Baltimore Irish Festival. 

I just missed "our" Irish dance schools show, heard it was great from audiences perspective, talked with some of them (who laughed that their first show means not entirely a cohesive group yet), and TCRG Ma (who introduced me to someone as "the mother of one of my almost-champion dancers") and her serious beau who bought me a Guinness when I'd asked for Harp but it was still good, and some ceili/set dance friends, etc.  Good food (a few potato dishes good for me the veggie), good drinks, and more great music.  Somehow I missed food Friday night, lol, staying too close to the stage in the rain for Black 47.

The Ceili Band played, but with time short, there was limited dancing.  I was fine with that, even if pegged to be a ringer (dancer she could call upon, among others), by the Caller. 

What the heck, I've heard O'Malley's March previous in the now no longer Mrs. O'Leary's Irish Restaurant and Pub, in the days of being "only" the Mayor of Baltimore or perhaps even before then.  It was a good show, M (and others) danced for the fun of it in front of them for the crowd gathered for some parade fundraiser or other event.  What I didn't realize was how geared to the audience that setlist was, with songs akin to The Unicorn Song, and one about growing up in a Catholic school.

Saturday night?  I knew he was cool, but dag, they were super cool, hot.  Maryland's Governor, Martin O'Malley is the lead singer and guitar player for O'Malley's March.  They hadn't performed in public in 8 months, according to him.  He did show up in belted, pressed black pants and not jeans (he may not have worn jeans in years past, either, not really recalling), and a black jacket over a black t-shirt, which, when uncovered, showed what great shape he's in -- someone called for his muscle shirt).   Martin himself seemed to loosen up and really be enjoying himself more and more as the show went on, at least 20 minutes over.  He dedicated one song to Jesse Winch, great musician who is part of the Bogwanderers and had played with the Ceili Band earlier.  It was a really rocking, goodshow! 

Their (band) webmaster borrowed M's digital camera from me and got these 2 shots (early in the show), which I'm grateful for (note the date stamp is inaccurate): 

Towards the end, Jim Eagen (fiddler on the right) and another guy played a fantastic duet, to which the rest of the band joined in for.  (Friend and I happened to end up sitting by his mother and grandmother, all quite proud.  He also played at a ceili Sunday, along with Myron, who was the emcee both Friday and Saturday nights for this Baltimore Irish Festival, meaning, the September one, as there is also a November one oy)  The encore was a version of, "I hope you have the time of your life," then Martin pulled up a guy named Dominic(k) who recited/sang a ballad about Baltimore, where the crowd pitched in every time Baltimore was to be said. 

 

Then Martin O'Malley himself slid backstage and squirreled off to the band truck.  Baltimore police officers were in force along with people who seemed to be Secret Service.  Back to his political life.  I somewhat followed Martin O'Malley's politics when he was Mayor of Baltimore, and more so when he started campaigning for Maryland state Governor.  I liked them, and him.  Heck, even now, he's trying to be certain that more middle class/lower middle class children have health care, and etc.  (Besides, who could truly vote for his opponent?)  I am on his campaign e-mail distribution listing (albeit I never did have the spare time to help out with it).  He was educated in Montgomery County, and really is a native Marylander.

So here is this smart, seemingly classy and yet sensitive to the needs of people, great leader of a clean-cut Irish guy (yanno, short haircut reminding me of BJ and Boss), having a lot of FUN rocking all out with a Celtic rock band.  I never realized our Governor is so hot.

Tags: Martin O'Malley; O'Malley's March

Tags: Baltimore Feis, Celtic Rock, Irish music, Jim Eagen

Glucometers

I figured it can't be THAT hard, but the Rn wanted to be the one to teach us how to use the equipment that tests blood glucose (sugar) levels.  Fine.  This was going to be Friday, but I didn't know until the night before, as she didn't know, that her time slot with Dad was moved to close to my morning visit with Dad, but not early enough for me to do w/out advance notice to Boss, and not late enough for me to count as lunchtime.  I mean, I would, but she was apologetic and I was not needed.  She called me during her 10 minutes there (that trip), saying that I needed to pick up strips, also.  Oh.  Glucometers also need strips, apparently, gotcha, got them, fine.

So today, her appointment switched AGAIN, but doable, breakfast and lunch with Dad as she coming lunchtimeish, fine.  Naturally, he'd eaten a good snack, so the glucometer read high but she wasn't concerned as, well, he'd just eaten.  This was a long visit.  She's been really nice and we've communicated often.  She always tells Dad, who calls me or tells me, and she tells me things.  Great.  She concentrated more on showing ME how to work it, than with Dad, figuring I could show him more later.  Seemed fine, doable, great.  She told me that he could reuse the lancelets (the needle prick) a few times, change it, oh, every 4 days, but DO buy more.  I'd have just gotten more THEN.  Or all with the glucometer and strips with the cane, if I'd know.  But, fine.  I may not use the holder for them, that seems fairly unnecessary unless one has awkward/ big fingers.

Before I took Dad out of the physical rehabilitation center (his "discharge,") I had that nurse double check about the diabetes and testing and medicines and even insulin (which he hadn't had since the hospital, but still), along with oxygen.  No oxygen needed (the Rn said today his lungs were clear, great!), and no testing needed, just various Rx's.........  one is a pill that stimulates his natural insulin production.  This Rn was concerned, however, and asked the doctor.  I agree with the whole idea of Dad / I being able to verify his blood sugar levels just in case.  A degree of comfort there (and ,certainly it has to help a nurse feel good to help educate a family on diabetes management, even if his continues to be mild, will it stay that way?  This does help.)

Dad and I went over his mail, a variety of other things, and made him lunch.  I was trying to take him out for lunch, even a drive-thru, I didn't care, but he didn't feel like it.  Besides, he had the physical therapist coming in just over an hour or so.  Fine. 

Before he ate, I figured we'd try this thing again, check the new reading.  I wondered briefly if I could just shut my eyes when I do the price part, but, no.  With my eyes open, I still got,"Ouch." "Sorry, do you want to do this?"  "No."  "Ouch, Robin, this doesn't hurt whenever they do it."  Dag, it sure looks to me like how they do it.  I figured out how to get the little strip to stick out of this expensive digital glucometer, the little strips daggone expensive also, ready to suck up blood.  (The pharmacy was super nice when picking up his new meds, egads, they'd have run over $500., but she got me paperwork for applying for Medicare something, B or D, and he'll be on a prescription plan soon, plus I took down the phone # -- either Maryland or Montgomery County has a health care or pharmacy card applicable to EVERYONE, I got one and blessedly haven't needed it, but he wouldn't know where his is).

We got Dad "stuck," not a lot of blood, trying to squeeze the finger, get more.  That little lizard tongue-looking sucked up the blood.  Great!  Okay, now for the reading........  except, how do I get it to do that?  I pressed the buttons I thought I needed to press.  The woman didn't write anything down for me, nor had I.  I do need written notes, even if I learn kinetically.  I ended up having the glucometer spit out that test strip unintentionally, and then stick out a new one.  Ugh.  Dad wanted his lunch. 

These shouldn't be so difficult.  Medical science and technology has come so far, so many people in the U.S. (the world) have diabetes, this shouldn't be so difficult.

Heck, even his microwave which he uses without me, I can't quite figure out but I stay pressing buttons until it turns on for a while.  I can't program a radio station on my car radio (as it differs from my old car, and, well, it's not worth my effort to figure that out, and it's really not worth the effort to figure out how to reset the clock).  Digital stuff is fine, new advances in technology, fine.  But, it's not simple enough to actually work.  It's a pain.

This test was an extra for the heck of it testing, anyway.  I'll bring it into my work health unit tomorrow, and have the nurse re-show me.  Ultimately, I would like to know and should know.  I'd even like to test my own, well, except for the needle "lancelet" prick I'll try not to faint over (and I shouldn't really share anyone else's lancelet).  Or, I suppose I could try to decipher the instructions.  I don't usually tend to look at those things.  Too verbose and unclear, typically, who has the patience.

Tags: glucometers, diabetes test, blood sugar testing

rain songs / dance

"So, I hear Maryland's having a drought?"

Hearing: James Connolly by Black 47

 

(Yeah, the picture's way too dark, and the date on it is wrong, but that's from Friday night, September 15th, at Canton Waterfront Park.)

"So, I hear Maryland's having a drought?," Larry Kirwan asked us, a bit bemusedly as rain poured down off the platform over his head, "us" basically getting soaked.
He went on to say something akin to, then Black 47 arrived and all is well. Ah, we did need the rain. After, when he and the other great band members were hanging out, supposedly to sell cd's and t-shirts, I told him that the crowd really would have been larger if not for the rain.
Not that he seemed bothered. He'd also said he'd be in New Jersey today, which I would know if I'd had time to read the e-mail newsletter he sent out last week, and he promised to take the rain with him. Ha.
Today, same place (Canton Waterfront Park, Baltimore Irish Festival), a few of the Maryland Irish (step) Dance schools will perform, including the other senior troupe at M's dance school. At some point after a ceili band, including Billy McComisky (sp) and Laura Byrne (sp), well-known good musicians play, today's headliner will be none other than Maryland Governor, Martin O'Malley, back to his musician moments with his band, O'Malley's March. It's cool, windy, and dry out today. He'll get a good turnout
M's in a feis today. Thankfully, L's mother asked Sh and I if M could do a 2-hand with L for this feis. M's never been able to dance at this feis previously, as she's always been with C. Sh said she hadn't thought of signing M up, but would. So, yeah! AND, M's 4-hand Oireachtas-hopefuls team will get a chance to compete, also. Nicely, figures are at the end, so M's not dancing first thing for figures, than waiting all day for her regular dances.
This means I'll race off momentarily to run an errand for Dad, visit him (I do every morning now, plus often again later in the day), and then get to the feis in plenty of time to see and be with M.
Update: Southern Region requirements to move up to Preliminary Champion are one hardshoe first place, and one softshoe first place, in Open Prizewinner. M has that. M's Irish Dance (ID) school requires a first place in all four of the main dances (reel, hornpipe, slip jig, treble jig). Works for M.
It was the die-hards out last night. Still a respectful sized crowd. Friend and I ended up, by the end, right up front. Funky Ceili was, of course, at the end. Several were dancing (a guy near us looked as if he thought of joining us and combining his group and ours). I practiced a couple actual step dance steps M and Ma taught me this past week. This is why. This is why we dance.
It's not the fru-fru feathers or flowers in the solo dresses (ack, I dislike those, anyway, and what's up with the fake tan crap I hear is popular in the higher levels in some regions?). It's not about winning awards. It's not even just about the fun and joy and love of dancing. It's the culture. It's the sharing and camaraderie (sp).  We're not so oppressed at this point, that we will be kept from dancing, and celebrating life.  (Not that the full culture ever died, not that everyone ever stopped dancing -- one possible explanation for the Irish step dancers holding their arms so straight down by their sides, and their backs straight, is that the British soldiers could walk by windows and perhaps see jumping, but not obvious dancing.)

Larry Kirwan is also a profecient writer and politician, aware of many political global things, of course, including Ireland affairs. Black 47 played Downtown Baghdad, and a new one, Stars and Stripes. More current events. And they played James Connolly, with several moments of the crowd with one fist in the air, respectful, solidarity and all that. He and his band members play great music, fantastic stuff. I love it.
There are bagpipes and penny whistles and bodhrans, along with electric guitars and a rock-band style drum set. There is a celtic flair, and it's fun stuff. Larry Kirwan wears his trademark green suede shoes. He chides us for not singing loudly enough during 40 shades of blue "Philly did better than this. DELAWARE did better than this. Come on, Baltimore." And we responded again, loudly this time.
Yet, there are never moments when the "average" person is forgotten (and yes, he's not only for the Irish, but anyone who has been downtrodden and such, including current immigrants into the USA). That we CAN dance, that we CAN holdfestivals. That we CAN have a voice.
My Honest Tea today says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead. To me, the band Black 47 is a bit of an icon, legendary, and quite personable, really. A good reminder that we're all worthwhile, and we can work hard, and enjoy a bit of life, too. Worth dancing to:) Here's to all those feising today. I sure hope M has a good time, and yeah, if she wins firsts, wow, but if not? It's okay.
She'll be with friends, and family, and dancing. That we CAN dance, is a good thing.

Sorry it's taken so long between entries, all. Been super swamped lately, back to work and Dad discharged from the physical rehabilitation center, both on the same day that M started school. Ack. But, it's all good, right?

Tags: Black47, Larry Kirwan, Irish dancing, Baltimore Irish Festival, Baltimore Feis, Celtic Roc

vaccinations

M had her 13-year appointment on Tuesday (it was then, or on her birthday in July).  My mother and I talked a bit about the Gardisil vaccination / immunication.

I'm waiting until next year for M, even if I was prepared for M to have it this year, and I'd prepared M for it.  The pediatrician brought it up, so I told her the summary of what I knew / heard of.  Also, that I really just wished her to have it previous to high school.  She said that she's waiting for her 12-year old, also, that it IS new, and that my decision made good medical sense.  She seemed concerned that it's still new, when there is time to wait for the younger ones eligible for it (recommended for ages 12 and above).  It'll still be in three shots total, but not until next summer and into the fall.  My health insurance will cover this.  I've had pre-cervical cancer cells myself.  I'm not risking M's life by her NOT getting this vaccination that could help prevent her from some cervical cancer.

 

Interesting that the chicken pox vaccination came out for M's age group just about the time/age she'd be eligible, but as she was sick that visit, I waited about 6 months.  With her eczema troubles she's had, I didn't want her miserable catching chicken pox.  Now it's mandatory for school children in Maryland.

 

M DID get the meningitis (sp) immunization / vaccination on Tuesday, as she was due.  We finished up the office visit, I spent a few moments getting the medicine release form signed (for her inhaler at school and fieldtrips like her Wednesday night one), and an updated copy of her immunizations for school.  We got into the elevator, and M complained about her stomach.  There is something scented on the first floor and elevator and I could sense it, but M was getting quesy.  Then, she passed out, fainted right there.  I thought she was joking at first, but obviously took her very pale self back into the doctor's office.  She apparently had a reaction to the vaccination, tho it's likely she was just too excited for it and related, not that something in this particular vaccination had something in it.  Yikes.  Of course, she was fine a while later.  Not up for an optional dance drills class that night she had really wanted, and the doctor didn't want her doing, anyway, yet feeling great after 10 p.m. lol trying onher old clothes and such. 

Still, that was scary.

 

So, vaccinations, eventful this time.  Otherwise, she's doing great, had some private time with the pediatrician (which is appropriate at age 13), yadda yadda.  Visit done.  I hope she doesn't have that reaction ever again.

 

M had a practice this morning for dancing she's to do this weekend -- M and a dance friend will dance for musician at a fun festival.  I've always meant to take Megan to that festival.  She's snow wimming this afternoon and I'll pick her up early.  Ahhh, the remaining days of summer.  M says she's ready for school to start NOW, but really, fully?  It's getting here.  Besides, she doesn't seem to have any jeans that fit and could use new sneakers.:)

 

Uneventful.

Thursday afternoon came and went without nary a word from C, nor phone call.  Phew.  After Sunday tradeoff of M with C, to M with me ("like a toy" per M argh I hate she feels that way), I started wondering if C had not gotten back to me re: mediation he'd been threatening and insisting on (ok, fine), and that she's with HIM this weekend (um, no, not per court order unless we switched), was b/c he'd just show up and demand she go with him.  He's not one to ever get back to me and say, "Oh, never mind," so I was left wondering what he was planning on. 

I'd gotten info from M about an upcoming event (feis) that led me to think that C/Sh were not going to stay persuing (sp) the switch of weekends/court order bit.  Then an e-mail from Sh implying that M was with me for a different upcoming feis / competition (asking if M and Si could do a 2-hand dance competition for it-- if Sh felt M was with them, Sh wouldn't even bother asking me, heck, she won't even respond to me when I ask her what M is signed up to compete in, for a feis M's with them for.  Just verifying figures is in, as her Oireachtas figures group is to dance there for practice.  Ah, well, someone at the dance school sent out another mass information e-mail that included who was confirmed for that, and M was listed, so good.  After asking M, I did write Sh back that M is fine dancing that one with Si, and I'd add that to M's registration.  C and I will also switch a set of weekends around later in the fall, as C will be out of town for one and M wants to feis near C's sister for another.  SO glad this has been, I think, resolved)

Thursday morning, picking M up from her camping trip the night before, I learned that THAT went uneventfully as well.  In the Applachian mountains during rain, yet they stayed dry even.  Greenbriar State Park.  As Sh put it, "Oh, nowhere exotic."  Nah, "just" a bonding "leadership" overnight camping trip.  She had SO MUCH FUN, as did the others I saw.  This was her 8th grade class trip, in advance of school, and they were all just happy to see each other again and very excited.  M asked to go over a friends house for the day with other girls, yeah, that problem solved.  (I was stuck with a work meeting so was going to have her with me at work, NOT risk her staying at home just in case C stopped by.  Then take M to a movie, which I may do this afternoon instead, or with my mother tomorrow, being M's extended her visit with a dance friend from practicing this morning, to also swimming this afternoon!)

 

TWO uneventful events.  Sometimes, uneventful is a good thing.  :)

I am not blue!

My mother loves all things blue, surrounding our home with blue to the point that I denied it's existence.  I'd say this was green, most likely, or any other color.  I'm STILL learning to appreciate blues.  Bright blue?  Nah.  Navy -- sure, it was my black/neutral for years.  The gorgeous blue of the ocean off of Baja Mexico was not to be denied.  Yet, I'm green, my entire life I've been green.  Maybe yellow at times, or purples and pinks, but always always green, too.

So, what do color do I get when I take the fun test in Sheria/ aimer's journal from Cathy's journal?  I am red  I wonder if this is a mistake.  Maybe I shouldn't have listed a stormy night's colors as a favorite?  Ah, heck, some of this is true........ 

 

***You Are a Blue Crayon***

Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors.
You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find.
On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody.
However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front.

Your color wheel opposite is orange. Orange people may be opinionated, but you feel they lack the depth to truly understand what they're saying.

What Color Crayon Are You?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/

Tags: what color crayon are you quiz