Sunday, February 23, 2014

February 23rd and eight months since my last post. This has been on my mind for a while now and with some encouragement from a couple of friends who have also restarted their blogs I decided to test the waters so to speak and see how it feels.

A lot has happened since my last post so this one is intended to kind of bring the events up to date. The first of July in 2013 I had a heart attack which was the first major health event in my then 66 years.  I really didn't know what was happening since it was all new to me. Extreme sweats and nausea were the major symptoms and I did not relate that to a heart condition so I waited to see if it would get better. The next day I had the same symptoms with the addition of some heaviness in my chest which prompted Linda and I to seek medical attention. 

This is where I must promote the greatness of a hospital system. Vidant Hospitals, no mater which one of their facilities you enter will change your opinion of how hospitals operate.  Instead of waiting in a waiting room for what seems like forever, they take you immediately and begin awesome care. Their level of care is unlike any I ever encountered. They actually care and everything they do is done with the most professional touch I had ever received. One thing I tell people is that just walking through their door into the hospital makes me feel better just knowing where I am.

They did determine I had some blockages but there was no significant damage done after running a lot of different tests during the week I was there. I was released and given Plavix to thin the blood and another medicine to help get my cholesterol to a better level. The only sad part is that while the recovery process took place I lost weight down to where I liked only to gain every bit of it back. I have proven in the past that I can drop weight easily with my strong will but eventually it always come back.

I did want to post a picture of the awesome medical center in Greenville, NC where I got such good care so here it is.


There may be people that see this post and think of our treasured pets Rocky and Soffie. They are doing well and here is a recent picture of both of them.


Rocky is where he stays a lot when I am home especially if I am on the computer. He likes to be in a chair so he can be next to me.


Soffie did get sick last year and lost down to almost the skin and bones she was when she arrived here homeless. She eats very well and has gained most of her weight back, however, she cannot jump and run like she used to and is weak in her hind legs.  So, instead of laying on the couch we make a place for her to rest and sleep on the floor and she seems quite happy with it.







Friday, June 21, 2013

Mural in Nashville, NC



Painted on the wall of a building at the end of Main St. in Nashville, NC by the NSI Art Club in 2012. 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

God bless you Paul Ryan

I am sure that everyone that reads this may find one point or more that they are thinking should not be here but looking at the overall picture this is the list that should be on every front page of newspapers across the country.  I mean we are talking "Trillions" of Dollars that could be saved.  Now please read and let others know. Thanks
Odie

PAUL RYAN’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS.This took my breath away


http://gopthedailydose.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/photo.jpg
This took my breath away.. read carefully!!!!

PAUL RYAN’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS
A List of Republican Budget Cuts
Notice S.S. and the military are NOT on this list.
These are all the programs that the new Republican House has proposed cutting. Read to the end.
* Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy — $445 million annual savings.
* Save America ‘s Treasures Program — $25 million annual savings.
* International Fund for Ireland — $17 million annual savings.
* Legal Services Corporation — $420 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Arts — $167.5 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Humanities — $167.5 million annual savings.
* Hope VI Program — $250 million annual savings.
* Amtrak Subsidies — $1.565 billion annual savings.
* Eliminate duplicating education programs — H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually.
* U.S. Trade Development Agency — $55 million annual savings.
* Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy — $20 million annual savings.
* Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding — $47 million annual savings.
* John C. Stennis Center Subsidy — $430,000 annual savings.
* Community Development Fund — $4.5 billion annual savings.
* Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid — $24 million annual savings.
* Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half — $7.5 billion annual savings
* Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20% — $600 million annual savings.
* Essential Air Service — $150 million annual savings.
* Technology Innovation Program — $70 million annual savings.
* Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program — $125 million annual savings..
* Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization — $530 million annual savings.
* Beach Replenishment — $95 million annual savings.
* New Starts Transit — $2 billion annual savings.
������� Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts — $9 million annual savings* Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants — $2.5 billion annual savings.
* Title X Family Planning — $318 million annual savings.
* Appalachian Regional Commission — $76 million annual savings.
* Economic Development Administration — $293 million annual savings.
* Programs under the National and Community Services Act — $1.15 billion annual savings.
* Applied Research at Department of Energy — $1.27 billion annual savings.
* Freedom CAR and Fuel Partnership — $200 million annual savings..
* Energy Star Program — $52 million annual savings.
*Economic Assistance to Egypt — $250 million annually.
* U.S.Agency for International Development — $1.39 billion annual savings.
* General Assistance to District of Columbia — $210 million annual savings.
* Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority — $150 million annual savings.
*Presidential Campaign Fund — $775 million savings over ten years.
* No funding for federal office space acquisition — $864 million annual savings.
* End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services.
* Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act — More than $1 billion annually.
* IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for some services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing it to remain as part of its budget — $1.8 billion savings over ten years.
*Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees — $1 billion total savings.WHAT THE HELL IS THISABOUT?
* Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees — $1.2 billion savings over ten years.
* Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of — $15 billion total savings.
*Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.WHAT???
* Eliminate Mohair Subsidies — $1 million annual savings.
*Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — $12.5 million annual savings
 WELL ISN’T THAT SPECIAL
* Eliminate Market Access Program — $200 million annual savings.
* USDA Sugar Program — $14 million annual savings.
* Subsidy to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — $93 million annual savings.
* Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program — $56.2 million annual savings.
*Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs– $900 million savings.
* Ready to Learn TV Program — $27 million savings..
* HUD Ph.D. Program.
* Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act.
*TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years
My question is, what is all this doing in the budget in the first place?
Maybe this is why the Democrats are attacking Paul Ryan. .
Please Send to everyone you know..



Saturday, April 27, 2013

I win, they loose!!

I was on a mission today as I journeyed into Roanoke Rapids searching for one of my favorite "make it simple" jewels in the cooking world.  I was looking for the following:



This stuff is amazing because all you have to do is brown some hamburger, drain and add this can of magic to heat and you have awesome chili in no time.  I had given out and needed to replenish my stock so I started working my way through grocery stores in Roanoke Rapids coming up empty and discouraged.  I finally came to the little town of Gaston on the edge of Roanoke Rapids and entered an awesome, smaller store called:


I entered and went to the aisle first to check and see if I was in luck and low and behold I was. They had 4 cans so I bought them all and found the manager to show my appreciation and promised if she bought more I would return and buy more. So, my friends I guess from now on when I need something from the grocery store I will bypass all those big boys and head straight for little Gaston, NC and as the saying goes down south I will be adding my amen to the following:










Thursday, April 25, 2013

Have you had your Oxalis today?

During my morning walk with Rocky and Soffie this morning I was careful to look for one of my tasty treats that nature provides in abundance here in NC in the form of Oxalis or as my dad told me as a child, "goat grass".  Of course when Rocky saw me reach down to pick some he had to investigate and would pluck some out of my grasp but I don't think he actually ingested any.
Let me assure any skeptics that it really is good and if you happen to see any that has volunteered in your yard or fields give it a try. You just might be surprised. Maybe these pictures will aid you in identifying for yourself.









Bon Appetit



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A walk in the yard

Another beautiful day here in NC and decided to take a walk with Rocky since Soffie perferred to sleep on the couch.  It was windy but was in the upper 60's so it was perfect to ramble around.  Thought I would share some random shots around the property. Hope everyone is having a wonderful "hump" day.


Love Linda's mom's huge trees in her back yard.




The Azaleas beside the house will be in full bloom very soon



Love watching the birds bath in the water.


These fake Canada Geese have been at that spot for longer than I know.


Can't have an outside post with King Rocky