Lots of good news today. Queenee had a peripherally inserted central catheter put in today, which will save her left arm from becoming a pin cushion any more than it is already. Her chest tube was removed and all x-rays are negative. The orthopedic surgeon removed her cast this morning and had a look at her ankle and pronounced it just fine. There is no infection and it is healing as hoped. He also told her she won't be putting any weight on that foot for at least 6-8 weeks, which is going to be hard for her - she was thinking she'd be back at work in another week. Her new cast is a lovely bright blue. Her vitals are all stable and she is doing so well that she may be moved into a rehab room downstairs tomorrow!
The nurses all love her, which comes as no surprise to any of use who have seen her in recovery mode before. She is an excellent patient.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday update
Every day sees a little more improvement. Queenee spent a fair amount of time in x-ray this morning due to a low blood count. She got two pints, which boosted her blood back up, but there was some concern about where all that blood went. One of the ICU nurses came in to say all tests and x-rays were negative. That was good news. I think the blood loss was mostly in the car (from her ankle) and of course, she has a lot of bruising. Her color is very good, but they are leaning heavily toward being very cautious. I like that.
She seems brighter today than yesterday, although she is starting to feel the bruises. Her lungs are fine, fully expanded, and there was no sign of leakage in today's x-rays. She is still at some risk for infection or pneumonia, but the hospital staff is very impressed with her strength and her positive attitude.
She seems brighter today than yesterday, although she is starting to feel the bruises. Her lungs are fine, fully expanded, and there was no sign of leakage in today's x-rays. She is still at some risk for infection or pneumonia, but the hospital staff is very impressed with her strength and her positive attitude.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday update
Queenee finally got that chest tube this morning. She was having a lot of pain from the broken ribs, and the air that was leaking out of her lung and into the chest cavity was causing pressure, so the thoracic surgeon, Dr. Patel, inserted a chest tube and got the air out. Then they put her on an epidural and she looks SO much better today. She is able to take deep breaths and cough and her lung is fully inflated again. The chest tube will stay in for a few more days, but she's looking good enough that she will be moved into ICU sometime tonight.
Whew.
Whew.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Goodbye to the Lincoln Town Car, and thanks
We'll agree, I'm sure, to pass on having days like this past Sunday again any time soon. Never again would work for me.
Queenee was driving home from the meat raffle at the Scrounge when she hit a patch of ice and spun her car off the road and into a tree late Sunday afternoon. She was less than two miles away from the house. A young woman driving by on her way to the mall stopped to check on the car she saw off the road and in someone's yard, since it didn't appear to be for sale. As luck would have it, Heidi was a nurse. Queenee was in shock, but awake, and was saying that her ankle hurt and she was trying to get out of the car. This wonderful young woman looked in and saw that Queenee had a compound fracture of her right ankle, and then sat in the car with her and held her hand and kept her still, calm and awake while they waited for the ambulance.
I got there maybe fifteen minutes after the crash, and by then there were two fire trucks, half a dozen police cruisers, an ambulance and a tow truck. To a person, the police, firemen and EMTs were all everything one could hope for in a situation like this. The driver's door had to be pried open, and Queenee was on a stretcher and just being moved to the ambulance when I arrived. There were five or six people in the ambulance checking her out, making sure her neck was stabilized, her leg was stabilized, and getting her on oxygen. The police and firemen did a quick check-in with me to be sure of our address, the direction she was headed when she lost control of the car, things like that, but they were all very respectful of the fact that I really didn't want to bother with them just then. They also said she was very lucky to have been in a big, solid car.
Once the ambulance left the scene, I headed home to pick up PopPop. I called him and told him to get some shoes on, we were heading for South Shore Hospital. I filled him in as best I could on the way.
When we got to the hospital, a preliminary workup had been done and the doctors and nurses were getting ready to do a series of x-rays and a cat-scan of Queenee's head. Her ankle was clearly a priority, what with the broken skin and exposed bone, but another concern was her ribcage, which was giving her a lot of pain. The cat-scan showed no head or neck trauma (thank god), but x-rays revealed five broken ribs and a small air pocket above her left lung. Fortune continued to smile on Queenee, as there didn't seem to be any lung puncture. Other than her right ankle, there were no broken bones in her legs or arms. Her two titanium knees survived without issues.
Because of her ribs, she was given a spinal anesthetic and three screws put her ankle back in place. No ligaments or tendons were torn up and the major blood vessels were still intact, so good healing should follow. Her tibia had a fairly clean break above her ankle joint, but the lower fibula was what the orthopedic surgeon referred to as "dusted", meaning it had been broken into many small bits and pieces and was not repairable at this time. However, because of the intact supporting structure, he feels this will heal well anyway, and while she may not have complete flexibility in that ankle, she will be able to walk pretty normally. PopPop and I said goodnight to Queenee and got home a bit after midnight. Try to imagine how please we were to drive on plowed roads through Weymouth, then Rockland, only to hit completely unplowed and unsanded roads in Hanover. I mean NOTHING. We were driving on packed snow. Now that's fine for me, I've lived in snow country and have good tires on a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but for Hanover to have not bothered to plow/sand/salt, even by midnight, is inexcusable.
By today, things were looking up. Queenee is being sedated and medicated and is groggy and sleepy, but otherwise is doing well. She is a good patient and will do her breathing exercises, which will help her lungs heal. PopPop and I swung by to see her after collecting the important paperwork from what was left of the car, and DamCat arrived shortly behind us. We didn't stay long; Queenee was struggling to keep her eyes open, so we said our goodbyes and left her to get some much needed rest and sleep.
So now we keep our fingers crossed and hope her lungs stay inflated and no pneumonia or infection sets in. She remains in post-op, in full view of the nurses' station, and that is a good thing. Post-op is fairly empty, so she has the staff of nurses and residents pretty much to herself. South Shore Hospital is a fine place and she's very happy with the treatment she has received.
9pm update: Hanover Officer Mike McKeever just stopped by to see how Queenee is doing. Can we clone him? What a nice man, he was the one I spoke to at the scene, the one who was keeping things moving and together and making sure Queenee was getting whatever she needed. And he was as angry as I was about the condition of the roads that night. It happens he knows the Peas, he was a teacher and had them both in class a few years ago! In fact, he knows of the Dog as well, remembers him being a bit of a partier (the Boscarfest legend lives!). It was a real pleasure to get a chance to see him again, and especially to thank him for what he, and everyone in the Police, Fire and EMT departments, did for our Queenee.
Queenee was driving home from the meat raffle at the Scrounge when she hit a patch of ice and spun her car off the road and into a tree late Sunday afternoon. She was less than two miles away from the house. A young woman driving by on her way to the mall stopped to check on the car she saw off the road and in someone's yard, since it didn't appear to be for sale. As luck would have it, Heidi was a nurse. Queenee was in shock, but awake, and was saying that her ankle hurt and she was trying to get out of the car. This wonderful young woman looked in and saw that Queenee had a compound fracture of her right ankle, and then sat in the car with her and held her hand and kept her still, calm and awake while they waited for the ambulance.
I got there maybe fifteen minutes after the crash, and by then there were two fire trucks, half a dozen police cruisers, an ambulance and a tow truck. To a person, the police, firemen and EMTs were all everything one could hope for in a situation like this. The driver's door had to be pried open, and Queenee was on a stretcher and just being moved to the ambulance when I arrived. There were five or six people in the ambulance checking her out, making sure her neck was stabilized, her leg was stabilized, and getting her on oxygen. The police and firemen did a quick check-in with me to be sure of our address, the direction she was headed when she lost control of the car, things like that, but they were all very respectful of the fact that I really didn't want to bother with them just then. They also said she was very lucky to have been in a big, solid car.
Once the ambulance left the scene, I headed home to pick up PopPop. I called him and told him to get some shoes on, we were heading for South Shore Hospital. I filled him in as best I could on the way.
When we got to the hospital, a preliminary workup had been done and the doctors and nurses were getting ready to do a series of x-rays and a cat-scan of Queenee's head. Her ankle was clearly a priority, what with the broken skin and exposed bone, but another concern was her ribcage, which was giving her a lot of pain. The cat-scan showed no head or neck trauma (thank god), but x-rays revealed five broken ribs and a small air pocket above her left lung. Fortune continued to smile on Queenee, as there didn't seem to be any lung puncture. Other than her right ankle, there were no broken bones in her legs or arms. Her two titanium knees survived without issues.
Because of her ribs, she was given a spinal anesthetic and three screws put her ankle back in place. No ligaments or tendons were torn up and the major blood vessels were still intact, so good healing should follow. Her tibia had a fairly clean break above her ankle joint, but the lower fibula was what the orthopedic surgeon referred to as "dusted", meaning it had been broken into many small bits and pieces and was not repairable at this time. However, because of the intact supporting structure, he feels this will heal well anyway, and while she may not have complete flexibility in that ankle, she will be able to walk pretty normally. PopPop and I said goodnight to Queenee and got home a bit after midnight. Try to imagine how please we were to drive on plowed roads through Weymouth, then Rockland, only to hit completely unplowed and unsanded roads in Hanover. I mean NOTHING. We were driving on packed snow. Now that's fine for me, I've lived in snow country and have good tires on a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but for Hanover to have not bothered to plow/sand/salt, even by midnight, is inexcusable.
By today, things were looking up. Queenee is being sedated and medicated and is groggy and sleepy, but otherwise is doing well. She is a good patient and will do her breathing exercises, which will help her lungs heal. PopPop and I swung by to see her after collecting the important paperwork from what was left of the car, and DamCat arrived shortly behind us. We didn't stay long; Queenee was struggling to keep her eyes open, so we said our goodbyes and left her to get some much needed rest and sleep.
So now we keep our fingers crossed and hope her lungs stay inflated and no pneumonia or infection sets in. She remains in post-op, in full view of the nurses' station, and that is a good thing. Post-op is fairly empty, so she has the staff of nurses and residents pretty much to herself. South Shore Hospital is a fine place and she's very happy with the treatment she has received.
9pm update: Hanover Officer Mike McKeever just stopped by to see how Queenee is doing. Can we clone him? What a nice man, he was the one I spoke to at the scene, the one who was keeping things moving and together and making sure Queenee was getting whatever she needed. And he was as angry as I was about the condition of the roads that night. It happens he knows the Peas, he was a teacher and had them both in class a few years ago! In fact, he knows of the Dog as well, remembers him being a bit of a partier (the Boscarfest legend lives!). It was a real pleasure to get a chance to see him again, and especially to thank him for what he, and everyone in the Police, Fire and EMT departments, did for our Queenee.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Happy 29th, DamCat!
Have a happy happy birthday DamCat!
It's your second birthday in the new house, and it seems to have been a very good year - may the good times continue to roll!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Give Me A Break
Click on the above Give Me A Break to watch.
20/20 Stossel took on the not popular side of Global Warming. Yes, we need to adjust our lifestyles on this planet so as not to leave a huge footprint. But, once again the media swallowed the hook, line, and sinker without doing complete research. I expect actors, and big money people to be this way, but the media and it's salient traits will not shove this one down my throat until all the research is complete. Good for Al Gore for helping move us into a greener place, but shame on him for backing misinformation to support the reasons why.
20/20 Stossel took on the not popular side of Global Warming. Yes, we need to adjust our lifestyles on this planet so as not to leave a huge footprint. But, once again the media swallowed the hook, line, and sinker without doing complete research. I expect actors, and big money people to be this way, but the media and it's salient traits will not shove this one down my throat until all the research is complete. Good for Al Gore for helping move us into a greener place, but shame on him for backing misinformation to support the reasons why.
Friday, January 18, 2008
San Diego
Isn't he gorgeous? There are almost two hundred photos, if you click on him.
We left for San Diego on Saturday morning. Boston-Dallas, then Dallas-SD, on American. The flights were both full, with maybe one empty seat on each plane. Normally we would have tried to fly non-stop, but in hindsight the layover in Dallas, which was no more than 1-1/2 hours, was a good opportunity to stretch our legs and grab a bite to eat. The Dallas-Ft. Worth airport, where AA is based, is something to behold. We got talking to a maintenance worker and he told us the airport is bigger than Manhattan island. To get from one terminal to another, you take the monorail train. In fact, each of the four terminals is so big, unless you want to walk for half an hour, you take the monorail from one side to the other. Trains run about every two minutes, so there is virtually no wait time. What a nice, clean, well-organized airport DFW is. I wouldn't bat an eye at having a layover there again.
San Diego used to be a military town and still has a large contingent of Marines. SD is now the 6th largest city in the country, yet it seems so sleepy (and we were staying downtown!). People are friendly and the weather is wonderful. Warm, sunny, no humidity...paradise.
The Fancy Food Show ran Sunday-Tuesday. Queenee and I put in full days Sunday and Monday and I think we did well, business-wise. We made some good contacts and I got to meet a few people that I had previously only ever spoken with on the phone. It's always nice to be able to put a face with a name. Sunday night a group of us had dinner at Croce's, which is run by the late Jim Croce's wife. My salmon was very good, but others at the table thought the food was just ok. Monday night Queenee and I were so sore from standing for two days that we ordered sandwiches in our room. Unfortunately, I got her order wrong and her steak sandwich was chewy and not very good. My chicken sandwich was fine, but she didn't want half. Alas.
Tuesday Queenee put in another day at the show, while I went to the San Diego Zoo. If you ever find yourself in SD, don't miss the zoo, it's a lot of fun and easy to spend a day there. It is also right in the city, in Balboa Park, a 1200 acre preserve in the heart of SD. Many of the various city museums are also in the park, but you can only do so much in one day. Don't overbook.
Make sure you get to the zoo early so you can see the animals before they all start snoozing the day away. I had a plan to see the nocturnal beasties first, then move on to the animals I knew would be awake in the afternoon, and that worked out well. I got on the tram right away and rode to the top of the zoo, making my way down to the Pandas. Zhen Zhen, the baby Panda, is only out from 9-11am, and I didn't want to miss seeing her. Her name means "Precious" and suits her perfectly, she is a precious! One of the zoo blogs said she had just learned to climb to the branch nest in the elm tree, where she was having a kip when I arrived. As if on cue, she woke up and looked right at me! I was told later by a few zoo workers that she is almost never awake during viewing hours, so I feel very lucky indeed.
I walked through a good deal of the zoo, then decided to take the tour bus and see the whole thing. Here is some advice - wear your most comfortable shoes, and buy the 'Best Value' ticket which includes the tram, tour bus and express bus. You'll thank me later when your dogs are screaming. The bus tour takes you all through the zoo, and while it's tough to get good photos when you might be behind a tree or moving, it's a good way to get an overview of what animals are there and where everyone is located. The express bus only covers about half the zoo and has three stops, but that is a convenient way to get from the elephants to the meerkats.
I ended up at the Reptile Mesa, which is a fine place to visit in the mid-late afternoon, as most of the reptiles are out sunning themselves. Be advised that the Galapagos tortoises start moving indoors at around 2pm, and they are worth seeing. The whole zoo is a good visit, and if you are into zoos or botanical gardens, you might consider spending two days there. The plants alone would take a good day to see. Next trip (doesn't hurt to be hopeful) I will get to the Wild Animal Park.
Tuesday night Queenee and I opted for Indian food and found a very good small restaurant only two blocks from our hotel. Nothing fancy, but good food, and I can never eat enough Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken on their menu).
We should have stayed an extra day so Queenee could have a day to see something of SD, but we headed out Wednesday morning and got back home at 11:30pm, tired, but thinking it had been a good show.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Drunk drivers
An Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Pulp Fiction," accused of drunken driving after a weekend accident that killed a passenger visiting from Italy, apologized Monday.
Roger Avary, 42, was driving early Sunday when his car spun out of control and hit a telephone pole in Ojai. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunken driving.
Killed in the crash was Andreas Zini, 34, a resident of Italy who was apparently visiting Avary and his wife, Gretchen, 40, according to the sheriff's department. Gretchen Avary was seriously injured but is expected to survive, said Capt. Jerry Hernandez.
"Roger wishes to publicly convey his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased," said a statement released by publicist Julie Polkes. "Words cannot express how sorry he is, and this tragic accident will always haunt him." ...
Will always haunt him? Too bad. I hope it always haunts him from a jail cell. I have absolutely no sympathy for people who choose to get behind the wheel of a car when they are drunk. Throw their sorry, selfish ass in jail for a good long time, none of this "I'm so sorry" crap. You weren't sorry enough to pull your head out of your ass and not drive drunk. You made a choice and someone else died. Now you get to shut your piehole, cowboy up and pay the piper.
I'd like to visit Ojai
A nice little village to retreat from the fast-paced lifestyle that can knot the nerves, wow.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Bailey discovers snow
I wish this didn't have Christmas music, because it's such a fun video and has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas. What a happy dog!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Happy Birthday, Deacon!
Even though he doesn't read this blog ... Happy 49th Birthday Deacon! The last year of early middle age is upon you, enjoy it!
Back to Normal?
Temp's reached down to around 44 degrees in that cold snap, with wind and stronger gusts, I thought I saw flurries!!! I watered my plants before nightfall and brought orchids inside. Within days the yard was littered with leaf drop but that was to be expected. We closed up tight, put the oven on and avoided the windy outside weather. Cooked pies, bread and made hot cocoa. The doors are now reopened with 73 degree weather and news of the fish die off coming to light. Florida Bay evidently dropped quickly in temperature and the smaller fish didn't make it through the island channels out to the ocean side's Hawks channel just inside the reef (much warmer waters). The results were floating bait, snappers, sunfish etc. floating dead on the Gulf side and our Cudjoe Bay made the news with a large amount of dead fish. Our Bow Channel (between Sugarloaf Key and Cudjoe Key) is a spot where they would normally swim through to find the warmer waters but those that got this far died anyway. The fishing reports say that yesterday and today /were/are great days for bridge fishing since activity is still on going or those survivors making a move toward warmer waters. Bob W. would have a great time this week setting hooks! The environmentalists have been out there testing the waters to appease those that think the die off was due to red tide or what-ever... and it simply found to be CaCaCoooold weather. Fishermen will not just be wetting baits this week... I'm sure they'll be catching some hungry larger fish!!
Let's see.... Miss P had Jimmy Carter and his family shopping in Margaritaville last week with an entourage of body guards. I would have liked to shake his hand in thanks for all the reef protection and bird sanctuary work he put in place here in the Keys while he was in office.
Mr. B sat and chatted with Gabriel Butterfield who loves Mr. B's cooking and in return Mr. B loved his father's music (Paul Butterfield was his dad). The reason I bring this up is because Mr. B had brought two Paul Butterfield albums (East-West, Better Days) with him to work that particular day to have another customer burn them onto CD's for them both. Gabriel has been coming in weekly and overheard the two talking and sat with them and they asked, "so, who the hell are you?" and he joined in the conversation and is in KW for the season. He plays the saxophone, and he and his mother sell memorabilia on the internet. Mr. B has such a passion for the Blues. I'm thankful that I've been along for the ride of that passion to listen and share whiskey with to so many great blues artists in tiny back alley bars. Boston in the mid to late 70's was amazing. We're waiting for Dr. John to show up since he is in town working with Jimmy Buffet We think of Queenee and can hear her playing when listening to Dr John.
Winter break is over for Mr. L and it's back to school today for mid year finals.
It really was a virtual Xmas for us here, but Mr. L's one wish was to get the Iphone that he has coveted since he first heard and investigated it. With xmas monies from the wabbit, queenee & poppop, us and savings of his own he reached the 400 he needed to make his xmas dream come true. Zoom... his original wish cost more so he'll have to do with white-strips I guess for now and the usual yearly teeth cleaning. I went to find out if it would up my phone bill and found out it is exactly the same not a penny more, so I got the 100 gift certificate from ATT and a virtual brochure and he was off to the store to spend his loot days after the holiday. He held off begging for an Ipod or second hand computer and now has them all including a phone in one item. I have to tell you.... this thing is amazing. Almost unreal. Star trek is all I can think of. Can't read the small print? just spread your fingers across the screen to enlarge it, 200% 300% whatever suits you.. then zoom it back down... scroll by the flick of a finger across the screen... check email... research the web in a flash.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? even texting is easy. Turn the thing sideways and it goes from vertical to horizontal.. Had I known all this... ya'll would have received one for Xmas!
Yesterday had me putting away all the visual joy of the holidays. It takes me a week or so to adjust to the empty feeling I have after it all disappears into the eaves.
The highway is busy with tourista's. Lot's of characters in town, the famous and the infamous. It's fun to talk to them all. KW is losing its luster for me, and becoming some regular, ordinary town. Folks are moving up the Keys here to get away from it and it's condo, plastic, fast food, overpriced new reality. Some move even further away to the mountains or coastlines of the Carolina's or Georgia. These transplants are trying to change the funkiness that brought them here in the first place. I guess those folks are just seeing dollar signs and don't care what is left behind. What I see is tourista's eventually going to go elsewhere to find the funky laid back feeling, straw markets, open air bars, street music and local food. Hell, even Orlando has an attraction that mimics KW. Why would anyone want to change the original, when they try to copy it all over the country? PROGRESS... the dictionary needs to update the meaning, because I always had the opportunity to look at progress in a positive way. I don't find that true now. Yeah, I hear you, the new word of the day is CHANGE, that still has positive overtones to it doesn't it, but you wait, that'll all be bullshit too.
I'm giving myself a long overdue laugh. I've been out saving the world and need a break. More from the edge of reality... soon.
Oh, and btw, the temp in this short period of time is now up to 76 degrees and climbing.
Let's see.... Miss P had Jimmy Carter and his family shopping in Margaritaville last week with an entourage of body guards. I would have liked to shake his hand in thanks for all the reef protection and bird sanctuary work he put in place here in the Keys while he was in office.
Mr. B sat and chatted with Gabriel Butterfield who loves Mr. B's cooking and in return Mr. B loved his father's music (Paul Butterfield was his dad). The reason I bring this up is because Mr. B had brought two Paul Butterfield albums (East-West, Better Days) with him to work that particular day to have another customer burn them onto CD's for them both. Gabriel has been coming in weekly and overheard the two talking and sat with them and they asked, "so, who the hell are you?" and he joined in the conversation and is in KW for the season. He plays the saxophone, and he and his mother sell memorabilia on the internet. Mr. B has such a passion for the Blues. I'm thankful that I've been along for the ride of that passion to listen and share whiskey with to so many great blues artists in tiny back alley bars. Boston in the mid to late 70's was amazing. We're waiting for Dr. John to show up since he is in town working with Jimmy Buffet We think of Queenee and can hear her playing when listening to Dr John.
Winter break is over for Mr. L and it's back to school today for mid year finals.
It really was a virtual Xmas for us here, but Mr. L's one wish was to get the Iphone that he has coveted since he first heard and investigated it. With xmas monies from the wabbit, queenee & poppop, us and savings of his own he reached the 400 he needed to make his xmas dream come true. Zoom... his original wish cost more so he'll have to do with white-strips I guess for now and the usual yearly teeth cleaning. I went to find out if it would up my phone bill and found out it is exactly the same not a penny more, so I got the 100 gift certificate from ATT and a virtual brochure and he was off to the store to spend his loot days after the holiday. He held off begging for an Ipod or second hand computer and now has them all including a phone in one item. I have to tell you.... this thing is amazing. Almost unreal. Star trek is all I can think of. Can't read the small print? just spread your fingers across the screen to enlarge it, 200% 300% whatever suits you.. then zoom it back down... scroll by the flick of a finger across the screen... check email... research the web in a flash.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? even texting is easy. Turn the thing sideways and it goes from vertical to horizontal.. Had I known all this... ya'll would have received one for Xmas!
Yesterday had me putting away all the visual joy of the holidays. It takes me a week or so to adjust to the empty feeling I have after it all disappears into the eaves.
The highway is busy with tourista's. Lot's of characters in town, the famous and the infamous. It's fun to talk to them all. KW is losing its luster for me, and becoming some regular, ordinary town. Folks are moving up the Keys here to get away from it and it's condo, plastic, fast food, overpriced new reality. Some move even further away to the mountains or coastlines of the Carolina's or Georgia. These transplants are trying to change the funkiness that brought them here in the first place. I guess those folks are just seeing dollar signs and don't care what is left behind. What I see is tourista's eventually going to go elsewhere to find the funky laid back feeling, straw markets, open air bars, street music and local food. Hell, even Orlando has an attraction that mimics KW. Why would anyone want to change the original, when they try to copy it all over the country? PROGRESS... the dictionary needs to update the meaning, because I always had the opportunity to look at progress in a positive way. I don't find that true now. Yeah, I hear you, the new word of the day is CHANGE, that still has positive overtones to it doesn't it, but you wait, that'll all be bullshit too.
I'm giving myself a long overdue laugh. I've been out saving the world and need a break. More from the edge of reality... soon.
Oh, and btw, the temp in this short period of time is now up to 76 degrees and climbing.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Brrrrrrrrrrrr
It is currently 5F here. We're looking for a high temperature of 15F, but even with the bright sunny day, we may not see that. Makes tomorrow's high of 34F sound like something to look forward to.
I had my teeth cleaned this morning. Ugh. Only a very superficial job today, the tech will have another crack at it in a month or so. X-rays confirmed what I already knew: two teeth on the right need caps, one on the left needs a crown recemented, and one back molar can just be pulled out as far as I'm concerned. Ideally, I'd be in the hospital, knocked out, and get it all done at one time, but insurance won't cover that. I don't know why not, it seems to me it would be cheaper and better for the patient (oh wait, they don't care about patients, LOL).
I'm taking the Kia back to the shop today. The heat still isn't working properly, and in this cold I need it to work. At least we pretty much know what the problem is. There is a leak in the reserve antifreeze tank, or in a hose below that. When the tank is empty, the only time heat is generated is when you have your foot on the accelerator pedal. At a stop light, you get ice cold air. They've replaced the tank once, so this will be round two. At least it's merely inconvenient, the repair is covered under warranty.
I sure hope the plants in FL are surviving the cold snap.
I had my teeth cleaned this morning. Ugh. Only a very superficial job today, the tech will have another crack at it in a month or so. X-rays confirmed what I already knew: two teeth on the right need caps, one on the left needs a crown recemented, and one back molar can just be pulled out as far as I'm concerned. Ideally, I'd be in the hospital, knocked out, and get it all done at one time, but insurance won't cover that. I don't know why not, it seems to me it would be cheaper and better for the patient (oh wait, they don't care about patients, LOL).
I'm taking the Kia back to the shop today. The heat still isn't working properly, and in this cold I need it to work. At least we pretty much know what the problem is. There is a leak in the reserve antifreeze tank, or in a hose below that. When the tank is empty, the only time heat is generated is when you have your foot on the accelerator pedal. At a stop light, you get ice cold air. They've replaced the tank once, so this will be round two. At least it's merely inconvenient, the repair is covered under warranty.
I sure hope the plants in FL are surviving the cold snap.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
My Teeth Chatter with Fear!
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL - 526 AM EST TUE JAN 1 2008
MONROE LOWER KEYS-MONROE MIDDLE KEYS-MONROE UPPER KEYS-
WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST OUT 20 NM-
CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE OUT 20 NM-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT 20 NM-
WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
KEY WEST TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY TORTUGAS-
GULF SIDE OF THE LOWER KEYS OUT 20 NM-FLORIDA BAY-
EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
...STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES TO IMPACT THE FLORIDA KEYS TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...
A very strong cold front will sweep through the florida keys this evening. Behind the front winds will turn to north northwest then north...with speeds steadily increasing to near 25 mph with gusts over 30 mph by tonight.
The higher winds will also bring in much cooler air...with temperatures dropping into the 50s at most island locations overnight...barely climbing to near 60 on wednesday...and plunging into the mid to upper 40s at many locations wednesday night. North winds of 20 to 25 mph at that time will result in wind chills bottoming out in the upper 30s or lower 40s along most of the islands. The cooler air will persist on thursday with highs only in the lower 60s.
This will be by far the coldest air experienced in the florida keys so far this winter...and wednesday night may very well be the coldest night in the keys since january of 2003. Bundle up...and please protect pets and potted plants too. Secure lightweight outdoor objects from the strong winds.
Mariners...Plan for north winds of 25 to 30 knots with higher gusts beginning late this afternoon on waters northwest and west of the lower keys...And affecting all keys waters by early tonight...with winds in excess of 20 knots continuing at least through thursday night. Ensure your vessel is sufficiently moored for these winds.
MONROE LOWER KEYS-MONROE MIDDLE KEYS-MONROE UPPER KEYS-
WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST OUT 20 NM-
CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE OUT 20 NM-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT 20 NM-
WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
KEY WEST TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY TORTUGAS-
GULF SIDE OF THE LOWER KEYS OUT 20 NM-FLORIDA BAY-
EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
...STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES TO IMPACT THE FLORIDA KEYS TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...
A very strong cold front will sweep through the florida keys this evening. Behind the front winds will turn to north northwest then north...with speeds steadily increasing to near 25 mph with gusts over 30 mph by tonight.
The higher winds will also bring in much cooler air...with temperatures dropping into the 50s at most island locations overnight...barely climbing to near 60 on wednesday...and plunging into the mid to upper 40s at many locations wednesday night. North winds of 20 to 25 mph at that time will result in wind chills bottoming out in the upper 30s or lower 40s along most of the islands. The cooler air will persist on thursday with highs only in the lower 60s.
This will be by far the coldest air experienced in the florida keys so far this winter...and wednesday night may very well be the coldest night in the keys since january of 2003. Bundle up...and please protect pets and potted plants too. Secure lightweight outdoor objects from the strong winds.
Mariners...Plan for north winds of 25 to 30 knots with higher gusts beginning late this afternoon on waters northwest and west of the lower keys...And affecting all keys waters by early tonight...with winds in excess of 20 knots continuing at least through thursday night. Ensure your vessel is sufficiently moored for these winds.
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